File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14802969873).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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34- CHINESE FORT OF TASH-KURGHAN SEEN FROM NEAR LEFT BANK OF RIVER.
Text Appearing After Image:
35. RUINED WALL AND BASTION OF KIZ-KURGHAN SEEN FROM SOUTH-WEST. cH.Tx ON HSUAN-TSANGS TRACK 93 in the desert west of Tun-huang fully supported thisopinion. But whatever the origin and purpose of this peculiarconstructive feature may be, I felt certain that the old fast-ness was the same which Hsuan-tsang had seen or heardof. The way in which he records the ancient legend thenclinging to it leaves no doubt about its having becomeruined long before his own time. The local tradition hehad heard ascribed the stronghold to the Han times, theearliest period of Chinese influence in the Tarim Basin ;and I felt not a little pleased to think that here, at the veryfirst point where I had touched his Central-Asian route,archaeological evidence on the spot confirmed afresh theoften-proved trustworthiness of my Chinese patron-saint.But how striking, too, was the evidence afforded by theruins for the dryness of the climate which prevails in thesemountains, and which alone could account for their su

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