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0247	Serindia : vol.3
セリンディア : vol.3

more than about 300 feet above the absolutely barren waste of high dunes on either side, its isolation
in the midst of the Taklamakān desert makes it a very striking and geographically interesting
feature. Its bearing and the similarity of its geological structure to that of the chain of rugged
isolated hills rising near Marāl-bāshi and Tumshuk on both sides of the Yārkand River justify the
belief that the Mazār-tāgh of the Khotan-daryā forms the last remnant of an ancient mountain system,
which jutted out south-eastwards into the Tarim Basin from the outermost chain of the T'ien-shan
subsequently visited on my way from Ak-su to Marāl-bāshi. That it is the never-ceasing wind-erosion
of countless ages which has reduced this remnant to its present insignificant dimensions appears to
me more than ever probable since the observations I was able to gather in 1913 on my attempt to
reach the Mazār-tāgh from the side of Marāl-bāshi.¹

So striking a natural feature as this hill range rising abruptly in the midst of the desert was
bound to attract local worship at all times, and this explains its modern designation as the 'Hill of
the sacred shrine'.² I was, therefore, prepared for the conspicuous collection of poles bedecked with
rags and other ex-votos which crowns the end of the ridge where it falls off with precipitous cliffs
towards the left river-bank (Fig. 335; see site-plan, Plate 59). But my satisfaction was greater
when, ascending to the crest of the ridge about a hundred feet higher, I found it occupied by the
ruins of a small and relatively well-preserved fort. Its high walls standing out clearly defined against
the sky had, when seen from below at a distance, looked almost like some rock formation; for the
total want of covering detritus or sand on the steep slopes has given the appearance of natural walls,
terraces, or steps to the denuded sandstone strata which crop out at a sharp tilt.³

The crest of the ridge on which the ruins stand is very narrow where it approaches the river to
the east, and even where it culminates in the small plateau bearing the detached watch-tower seen
in Fig. 329 its width is only about 30 yards. To the south the ridge presents a very precipitous
face, practically unscalable near the fort. The slopes to the north are easier; but these too are
completely commanded by the fort and the tower. A second ridge shown in the site plan, which
runs parallel to the main one for a considerable distance, is both lower and beyond the range of bow-
shot. The position thus occupied by the fort was naturally very strong, altogether inaccessible to
attack from the south and east, and protected from the west by the tower already referred to. Apart
from this outlying and very massive tower, the fort was defended on the north-west by a wall
stretching across the rocky crest and by two bastions 16 feet square, projecting at either end and
built solid (Fig. 329). These bastions and the curtain between them were constructed of flat pieces
of clay set in mortar, with layers of tamarisk branches between the masonry courses at intervals of
10 inches. In addition, posts and beams of Toghrak wood inserted within served to strengthen the
masonry, both here and in the walls, fully 10 feet thick, which enclosed the fort proper on the south-
east and north-east. The latter walls, as well as those of the inner structures and the court v, were
built with coarse bricks, measuring 15″ × 8″ × 3⅛″.

By filling up the space within the walls a level area was created over the naturally steep north
slope to serve for the interior of the fort. This comprised the inner court iv, measuring 50 feet
square, which was found covered with the débris of less substantial structures likely to have served
as quarters. Abundance of charred timber suggested that these may have been constructed mainly

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『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

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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

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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