Ruins of desert Cathay : personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China . avations at the old site northward hadbeen most cheering. But even greater, perhaps, at thetime was my satisfaction at having been able to push themthrough so rapidly; for my thoughts were eagerly turningall the time eastwards to the Lop-nor region which was toform the true scene for the winters explorations. Thedistance separating me from it was still great—some fourhundred odd miles, practically all through desert—and anearly arrival was important for a variety of practical were
Ruins of desert Cathay : personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China . avations at the old site northward hadbeen most cheering. But even greater, perhaps, at thetime was my satisfaction at having been able to push themthrough so rapidly; for my thoughts were eagerly turningall the time eastwards to the Lop-nor region which was toform the true scene for the winters explorations. Thedistance separating me from it was still great—some fourhundred odd miles, practically all through desert—and anearly arrival was important for a variety of practical were ancient remains, too, I knew, waiting forexamination en route. So I almost grudged the single days halt which, onOctober 31st, I was obliged to sacrifice at the Mazar to ahost of urgent tasks. The majority of the Niya men, whohad laboured so valiantly under trying conditions and onthe scantiest of water rations but were now fairly wornout, had to be paid off to their homes. Fresh supplies,brought down from the oasis for those of them whowere to remain with me and for my own party, had to be. CH. XXV RETURN TO THE LIVING 299 distributed. The new * finds needed careful packing inrapidly-made-up cases and, with the exception of preciousKharoshthi tablets, despatch to my Khotan depot for safekeeping. In addition to all this, there arrived opportunelyin the evening my faithful Dak carrier Turdi with themails from Khotan, three bags full. Small wonder thatthe attempt to cope with these postal accumulations keptme busy writing till about 3 An icy east wind hadsprung up that evening, and the bitter cold in my littletent made me realize that winter was already upon us. CHAPTER XXVI TO THE ENDERE RIVER On the morning of November ist our camp Singh, the Surveyor, was sent south to Niya andSorghak with instructions to resume his triangulationalong the foot of the great Kun-lun range, and to carry itas far east towards Lop-nor as time and conditions wouldpermit. The C
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