338 FROM KAN-CHOU TO T'IEN-SHAN CH. LXXX
to fix the point where the old engineers of Han times, with their unfailing eye for the military advantages of the ground, had utilized the passage of the river between two low hill spurs for bringing their border line from the right to the left bank. Thence I traced it to the remains of the wall which I had already discovered in the summer south of An-hsi.
On my arrival at An-hsi I had the great satisfaction of finding my precious deposit of antiques quite safe. It was a pleasure also to be greeted by my old surveying companion Rai Lal Singh, whom the Surveyor-General of India, in response to an appeal despatched nine months before from Lop-nor, had kindly deputed to relieve Rai Ram Singh. The latter, in spite of his rheumatic troubles of the preceding winter and spring, had been able to render very valuable services in the Nan-shan. But his health was manifestly unequal to facing the hardships of a second winter campaign in the desert, and it was wise that he should now leave me to regain India via Khotan. I was particularly glad to have Rai Lal Sing once more by my side ; for I had learned to appreciate the worth of his training and character on my trans-border expedition to Mount Mahaban, in 1904. He was soon to give me again splendid proofs of exceptional zeal and fitness for surveying work under trying conditions, as tested before by many an expedition from the Yemen to Eastern China.
Advantage was taken of Rai Ram Singh's journey to get an accurate survey of the more circuitous mountain route leading from Tun-huang to Charklik along the Altintagh. But before his departure tracings had to be made for safety's sake of all the plane - table sheets which he was to carry back to India, and this sufficed to keep both Surveyors busy for over a week. I myself was kept hard at work during my twelve days' stay at An-hsi with preparing the full report to Government on my previous operations, and with detailing the proposals which were to secure the time and means to record their results after my return.
In addition, my hands were kept full with manifold
IIIF Color HighRes
