File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14802993703).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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It was true that the position assigned to the latter as
well as other topographical features were found to differ
widely from the actual configuration of these valleys as
revealed by our survey, while none of the names of passes,
etc., shown south of Karanghu-tagh were known to the
hill-men. No help could be got from the very meagre
record published of Johnson's remarkable feat. There
was no reason to doubt the general fact of his having
crossed the Kun-lun main range from the head-waters
of the Kara-kash southwards, and it was thus a matter
of considerable interest to ascertain where his actual
route lay.
But owing to the wide discrepancy between his map
and the real topography of these mountains only conjec-
tures could guide me in the search for this route. And
a number of conjectural indications, which it would
be impossible to explain here without analysing in
detail the relationship presented by certain features
of Johnson's rough sketch map to the ground as our
surveys had shown it, seemed to point to the Busat Valley
as the most likely approach to his Naia Khan Pass.
If it were possible to trace from it a practicable crossing to
the head of the nearest valley eastward, the Chomsha
Jilga of our survey, we might then be justified in looking
from the south-western end of the latter for that mys-
terious ' New Pass ' by which Johnson at an elevation of
Text Appearing After Image:

62. EXILED MALEFACTORS FROM KHOTAN AND TAGHUK HERDSMEN AT KHUSHLASH-LANGAR,
KARANGHU-TAGH.


CH. XVII. SEARCH FOR FORGOTTEN ROUTE 1999

19,500 feet claimed to have penetrated the great barrier
of the main Kun-lun.
My start for the head of the Busat Valley was not
effected without serious trouble. The Yuz-bashi and
greybeards of Karanghu-tagh did not deny that it was
one of their grazing-grounds and that the approach to it
was easy. But when I demanded, with a view to possible
further exploration, that the men who were to accompany
the few yaks needed for what little of baggage was to be
taken ahead, should be provided with food for ten days,
the answer was a non possumus clamorously uttered in
chorus. The dozen men or so who had been collected,
declared that more than a days bread was not within their
reach, while the Bais of the settlement, men owning
plentiful cattle, were equally emphatic in assurances that
there was no spare grain in their houses, however tempt-
ing the rates I might offer for its purchase. In the end
the suave town-bred Beg of the hill tract who assisted at
these preparation

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