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0364 Ruins of Desert Cathay : vol.2
中国砂漠地帯の遺跡 : vol.2
Ruins of Desert Cathay : vol.2 / 364 ページ(カラー画像)

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doi: 10.20676/00000213
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quite a delightful experience. But it was also a reminder
that the conditions of practically unbroken dryness which had
favoured my search for antiquities as far as the Tun-huang
desert could not be expected to extend much farther east.
The carts by which the baggage was to move to Ch'iao-
tzŭ had been promised for that day. But when I saw the
water-logged condition of the fields and lanes under a sky
of true Europe hue, I was less inclined to chafe at the
inevitable Cathayan delay.

At last, on June 24th, I was able to leave An-hsi. The
transfer to the Ya-mên of all cases with manuscripts and
antiques, as well as of all stores and equipment which
could be spared till the autumn, had greatly reduced our
impedimenta. Three light carts sufficed for their transport,
and by 9 A.M. I saw them safely move off with the majority
of my party. I myself with Chiang-ssŭ-yeh had to pay
farewell visits at the Ya-mên, a welcome opportunity to
convince myself personally that the place of storage in the
magistrate's official quarters was as safe as human fore-
thought could provide in this region. The obliging if
somewhat timorous Mandarin had allotted to them a room
airy and easily watched within his private courtyard.
Large beams had been laid over pillars of bricks to raise
the precious cases well above the ground, and Ibrahim
Beg was to see to it that once every week they were
carried out into the sun to prevent all possibility of damp
attacking the contents.

In spite of the exceptional rain which had fallen the
day before, there was in truth little fear on this score in
wind-swept and sun-parched An-hsi. But it was a con-
venient means to assure a frequent check by faithful
Ibrahim Beg of my precious deposit. The Amban had
accepted full responsibility for its safe keeping as far as
numbers and seals could show it, and Ibrahim's weekly
inspections would help to keep alive this sense of official
responsibility. Elaborate fastenings on each case, secured
by seals within wooden seal-cases copied from ancient
specimens, would effectively prevent 'unauthorized inspec-
tion' of the contents, if such an excess of antiquarian
curiosity—or greed—could be apprehended on the part of