Ancient Khotan : vol.1 / 491 ページ（白黒高解像度画像）

0491	Ancient Khotan : vol.1
古代コータン : vol.1

CHAPTER XII

THE ENDERE RUINS

Section I.—THE MARCH TO THE ENDERE RIVER

I had already heard at Niya of ancient remains in the desert near the Endere river about Start from
half way towards Charchan, and subsequent information as to the existence there of a 'Potai' Niya Site.
and other structural ruins decided me to select them for my next exploration. Their distance
had supplied a special reason for completing my explorations at the Niya Site as rapidly as
possible. During the greater part of my stay there had been a succession of deliciously clear
days with bitterly cold nights and mornings, the minimum thermometer usually showing tem-
peratures from 6° to 9° Fahr. below zero. It was striking evidence of the remarkable clearness
of the atmosphere that early on the morning of February 11 the Surveyor's sharp eyes distinctly
sighted the snowy mountains south of Niya, some 120 miles away. But I knew that such
favourable conditions for desert work could not be expected to serve us much longer. I thought
of the number of sites that still remained to be explored, and the great distances to be covered
between them, before the season of sand-storms would put an end to my explorations, and
consequently realized the necessity of setting out for those fresh fields of work as early as
possible.

The timely arrival of the camels enabled me on the 13th of February once more to start
my caravan back to Imām Ja'far Sādiq. As I passed one ruin after the other familiar to me
from the incessant work of the last weeks, my elation over all the discoveries they had yielded
mingled with regret at having to leave this fascinating site so soon. But there was the hope
of fresh discoveries awaiting me elsewhere and the possibility of return in years hence, by
which time a shifting of the dunes might have helped to reveal yet other ruined structures
still hidden under their protecting cover of sand.

It would have been difficult to take all my former labourers along to the new site, as the Return to
distance was great and the men were well-nigh exhausted by the hard work and exposure of Imām Ja'far
the last three weeks. The fresh set of men needed could only be secured from Niya, and it Sādiq.
was hence no small relief when, on arrival at that day's camping-place, information reached me
that all arrangements had been made by the local Beg for the timely dispatch of the fresh
contingent. The next day's march brought me to Imām Ja'far Sādiq, the living forest passed
en route proving even in its winter sleep a great change after the silent sands and ruins
amidst which I had dwelt. At the Mazār I was kept busy long into the night by the dispatch
of my mails to Europe and India, with the first notice of my recent discoveries, and by the
settlement of all accounts with the labourers and the Shaikhs of the pious settlement.

I had wished to reach the Endere ruins by striking straight across the desert to the east
of Imām Ja'far Sādiq, instead of returning to Niya and thence marching along the Charchan
Road. At first all knowledge of such a route was stoutly denied, but in the end one of the
shepherds from the Mazār acknowledged that he had more than once visited flocks grazing

3 H

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

引用情報

OCR読み取り結果

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

引用情報

OCR読み取り結果

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