File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14782833892).jpg

Identifier: ruinsofdesertcat01stei (find matches)
Title: Ruins of desert Cathay : personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Stein, Aurel, Sir, 1862-1943 Archaeological Survey of India
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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the interior of the shrine came undoubtedly themany elaborately turned balusters, over one and a half feethigh, which fitted four each into a kind of top railingintended to represent a succession of small double brackets(Fig. 122, 2). Other relics of interior adornment were smallmodels of Stupas up to three feet in height carved in wood,complete with base, dome, and a string of mushroom-shaped umbrellas; large blocks of wood with carvedrosettes, designed probably for a tympanum decoration,etc. But of the images which the shrine was likely tohave contained, only the scantiest relics had survived, suchas the fore-arm and hand of a relievo figure carved inwood ; and small pieces of fine plaster of Paris, showingremains of relievo decoration, as if from the jewelled armof a life-size image. The stucco fragments all turned upon the north-east slope where the layer of sand was fartoo light to afford effective protection. The conditionswere equally unfavourable on the two remaining sides of
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-I re 0, . o 5 > < h 3 3 CH. XXXV AN UNEXPECTED MAIL 407 the structure ; but, curiously enough, a few feet down thesouth-west slope a small refuse heap had survived, whichyielded some fragmentary Chinese records besides theusual miscellaneous rags of silk and canvas. The clearing of the ground which yielded those finearchitectural wood-carvings was still proceeding when thedusk began to descend upon us. Absorbed by the interestof my find I was not as likely as the tired labourers tohave my attention distracted by the approach of somemen from the camp side. But suddenly I noticed a com-motion among the groups of diggers, and shouts of* Dakchi keldi * (the Dak-man has come) struck myears. I could not believe them. But as I looked up, myeyes fell in amazement upon the familiar figure of honestTurdi, wearily trudging towards me with a bag over hisshoulder, and accompanied in great glee by Muhammadju,Jasvant Singh, and the strange figure of a Loplik hunter. At first the sudden appari

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