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| 0207 |
Sand-Buried Ruins of Khotan : vol.1 |
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it was easy to make out the series of semi-lunes into which the
drift-sand forms under the action of wind. In the intervals
between these ridges the ground was fairly hard and white
with alkaline salts. The ponies' feet sank deep into the
loose sand, and each ascent of 30 to 40 feet was thus a tiring
performance. The lines of sandy ridges ran mostly from
south-west to north-east, the steep inner sides of the semi-
lunes facing all to the south-east. After a tiresome march of
some five miles from where we first entered the moving sand
region, we drew near to our goal. A long, open valley
appeared between the dunes, and at its entrance from the
north we could make out a group of stunted poplars. They
grow near a well of brackish water, which is carefully pro-
tected by a wooden shed from the advance of the neigh-
bouring sandhills. The water-surface was at the time some
six feet below the level of the artificially cleared ground in
front of the shed.
It was nearly dark when we reached there. But the water
tasted so bad and the neighbouring rest-house looked so
dilapidated, that I readily moved on to the main settlement
of the desert shrine some half a mile off. There I found a
collection of huts and Sarais built for the accommodation of
the local custodians or 'Mujawirs' and their pilgrim visitors.
One of the rest-houses had been cleared for my party, and
there our ponies found grass and water. I myself was glad
to discover at some distance a spot where the ground was
firm enough for pitching my tent, and where I was safe from
the odours that rose from the accumulated refuse-heaps of
this strange settlement. It was a long wait till the baggage
turned up, towards eight o'clock; but in the pure desert air
the evening breeze from the east felt delightfully fresh, and
when at last the late dinner appeared and I could retire to
rest I had almost forgotten the fatigue and heat of my first
day in the long-looked-for desert.
The morning showed me my surroundings in their true
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