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| 0077 |
Ancient Khotan : vol.1 |
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Gumbaz and Tughlān-shahr, and known as *Bāzār-dasht*, still retains the remains of shops built
in rows and of sun-dried bricks, showing that the spot was once occupied by a Bāzār.
In connexion with the reminiscences of Persian lore just mentioned, it may be pointed
out that the name *Varshadeh*, used as an old designation of Tāsh-kurghān by the inhabitants
speaking Sarīkolī, also clearly bears the stamp of Irānian origin.
Apart from the capital we find two more localities specified in Hsüan-tsang's account of Sacred sites
Sarīkol. One of these, 'a great rocky scarp' with two rock chambers, in each of which an named by
Arhat was shown plunged in complete ecstasy, yet with his body undecayed in spite of long tsang.
centuries, cannot be identified. It is described as situated some 300 li to the south-east of
the city, and may, therefore, be looked for among the high ranges which are drained by the
Vacha river, the nearest affluent of the Tāsh-kurghān river from the south-east.
The other locality was a hospice for travellers, or *Puṇyaśālā*, which the pilgrim reached
after leaving the capital towards the north-east and marching for 200 li across mountains and
along precipices¹⁸. It is described as being situated in 'a space comprising some hundred
*ch'ing* (thousand Chinese acres), in the midst of the four mountains belonging to the eastern
chain of the Ts'ung-ling mountains'. 'In this, both during summer and winter, there fall down
piles of snow; the cold winds and icy storms rage. The ground, impregnated with salt, produces
no crops, there are no trees, and nothing but scrubby underwood. Even at the time of the
great heat the wind and the snow continue. Scarcely have travellers entered this region when
they find themselves surrounded by vapour from the snow¹⁹. Merchant caravans, in coming and
going, suffer severely in these difficult and dangerous spots.'
Hsüan-tsang then relates 'an old story' how once a great troop of merchants, with thousands
of followers and camels, perished here by wind and snow. An Arhat of Chieh-p'an-t'o, having
failed to rescue them in time, collected all the precious objects left behind by the caravan
and constructed a house, in which he accumulated ample stores. He also bought land in the
neighbouring territories, and with its proceeds provided houses in the bordering towns for the
accommodation of travellers.
Taking into account the direction of the pilgrim's route after leaving Tāsh-kurghān and the Chichiklik
distance indicated, it is clear that the position of the hospice must be identified with the Chichiklik plateau.
plateau, a broad elevated valley, which the main route from Sarīkol towards Kāshgar and Yarkand
crosses at a distance of two marches from Tāsh-kurghān. Chichiklik is the point which all
travellers in the above direction must traverse by whatever passes (Yangi-Dawān, Yambulak,
or Chichiklik-Dawān) they may surmount the second of the great mountain ranges which radiate
southwards from Muztāgh-Ata. A reference to the detailed account of this much-frequented
route given by Sir D. Forsyth's Mission ²⁰, or to Lord Curzon's Map of the Pāmirs, will illustrate
this remark.
The important position of Chichiklik, as the natural halting-place between the passes leading
over the first and second of those ranges, and its high elevation, explain the provision of a hospice
at this point. Though I have not been able to trace any exact observation as to the height of
Chichiklik, it may safely be concluded from Colonel Trotter's description and the elevations
ascertained for the passes by which it is approached on either side (Kök-moinak Pass, 15,670 feet,
to south-west, and the almost imperceptible watershed to the north-east, 14,480 feet)²¹, that the
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724
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