国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

1158   TO' HAMI AND TURFAN   [-Chap. XXVIII

Beyond, where the valley widens out somewhat, the big village area of Kara-döbe was entered, stretching away to the south-west for a distance of probably close on ten miles. Its stream, coming from Toghucha, carried here far more water than where I had seen it above the ruined town ; the increase in volume is due to the abundance of springs which come to light in or near its deep-cut bed where it passes through the lands of • Lapchuk. For nearly four miles the road led through rich gardens and orchards, and the number of farms looked quite double that of Lapchuk. I had a very cordial welcome at Kara-döbe, and found the villagers, far off from the high road and unaffected by Chinese ways as they are, communicative enough. But they could tell of no old remains apart from two ruined watch-towers. These could be sighted to the south and south-east, far away in the distance, rising on long desert spurs which overlook the widening valley. That the latter descends towards the Shona-nor depression seemed probable from the look of the ground. That no water from this side reaches so far now is certain. Yet the existence of those conspicuous towers points to routes through the desert by which raids, etc., may have once been practicable from the south.

OBJECTS EXCAVATED AT ARA-TAM RUINS

A. oox. Fresco fr. from edge of wall. On white ground are two ribbons, faint pink with vague blue markings, outlined in black ; one ending in spiral. Much faded. 6' x 3i".

A. I. 001-2. Stucco relief frs. ; two palmette finials of five leaves ; upper three straight, two lower spiral. Green with chocolate edging ; round edge, traces of red background. Lower part of ooz broken off, and colour mostly lost. Soft grey clay. oor, 3" x 2*' ; 002, 2i" x 2'.

A. I. 003. Stucco relief fr. Jewel orn. with round central boss surrounded by floral border ; remains of green paint. Soft grey clay. Diam. 4".

A. I. 004. Stucco relief fr. Medallion from head-dress, covered with intricate relief pattern of spiral lines; plentiful traces of red ; much worn, Soft grey clay with upright wooden support. a*' x 2i".

A. 1. Dos. Stucco relief fr. Tassel; traces of yellow paint. Soft grey clay. 21" X r ".

A. i. oo6. Stucco relief fr. Part of border. Edge blue ; front shows on blue ground, scale pattern outlined in red on white ; traces of vermilion in corner. Broken and worn. Soft grey clay facing over red clay and fibre backing. 31.'

A. I. 007. Stucco relief fr. of drapery ; folds curve to L. and R., blue ; down centre a heavy perpendicular over-fall of red. Colour much lost. Soft grey clay over red clay and fibre backing. 6' x 5".

A. r. oo8. Stucco relief fr. Legs from loins downwards of human fig. in profile to L., R. knee raised as in climbing.

From large vesica, the flame border of which shows below feet of fig. Loin-cloth green, lower drapery red with black markings to accentuate moulded folds ; shoes pink. Double border of flames, inner green, outer red. Drab clay. 7" x 4'. Pl. CXXXIx.

A. r. Dog. Stucco relief fr., showing three tricoloured ribbons (blue, red, and green) interlaced ; only traces of colour. Soft grey clay over red clay backing. 4' X 2k'.

A. I. ooro. Stucco relief fr. Top-knot (?) from headdress resembling Mi. xi. 003 ; blue. Soft grey clay on red clay and fibre backing. 3" x 4r".

A.I. Do". Stucco relief fr. End of drapery fold ; blue. Soft grey clay over red clay and fibre backing. 2'

A. I. 0012. Stucco relief fr. Edge of vesica (?) ; spiral pattern in green and red. Soft grey clay. xi"x

A. I. 0013. Fresco fr. showing on white ground ends of looped or floating scarves ; copper-green outlined black, or olive lined with blue. Adjoining latter are four toes of human foot, white outlined black, and orange at tips, roughly drawn. Traces of orange and red on edge below (unintelligible), and of scattered flowers on background. Much worn. 7' x 5'.

A. II. 001. a—b. Stucco relief frs. a. L. side-lock of hair-dress of human fig.; cf. Mi. xi. 003. Black paint. 3r X 2". b. Top-knot of same ; traces of black paint. Soft red clay plentifully mixed with fibre. 3i' x 3".

A. zu. vii. ooi. Frescoed slab of soft red clay and fibre, wedge-shaped in section ; painted on each side with coarse floral scroll-work in red and green, outlined black. Broken both ends. 1' x 6'x Iâ" to 8".

Extensive cultivation of Karadöbe.

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