The Geographical Journal Volume 8 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ...coming out of the desert. On account of their trade, these people lead a complete nomadic life. They sleep where they find a chance, in the open air or in small huts built of branches and bushes. There are no cornfields along the river, and no Chinese mail is carried this way. Once in a while caravans travel between Khotan and Aksu-Kuchar. From the southern part of Khotan they carry dried grapes, apricots, and other kinds of fruit; also cotton and pats. They return with horses, mules, and Bussian groceries. The communication is generally kept up by the aid of mules; I very seldom saw horses and camels used. The tradesmen had to provide themselves with food for the whole voyage, which takes from eighteen to twenty days. The traffic on this road is, however, merely of a local character. The trade of India, Bussia, and China goes a different way, and does not touch this part. A few words to explain the maps. (1) Shows our march between the two rivers; scale 1:1,000,000. I am sorry to say that my astronomical daybook had already been sent home, and I cannot, therefore, make use of any of the five fixed points. I did not take any astronomical observations during the whole latter half of my voyage, because I had to use all my strength to save my life. Next winter, when I return to the Khotan Daria, I intend to take a few observations along the river, particularly at Masar Tagh, and, if possible, at Buksein. The maps are consequently based upon topographical material only. I used the compass from sixty to seventy times a day, which shows how the sand compelled us to walk in constant turns. In order to determine the distance, I measured every morning from a certain point 440 yards; then I noted how many minutes and seconds it took the camels to cover...