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92 ADVENTURES IN TIBET.
for se\’eral days it rained sand, until all that country, and
all its people, were buried underneath it.
They almost made it a matter of conscience, did these
honest people, at seeing me fling myself, as they thought,
wantonly away to destruction, and suggested that it would
be better if I started from the south, and went round the
desert, and then made direct for Yanghi-kol. By way of
helping me to find my way out of the desert they proposed
to kindle every evening a big beacon-fire on the top of a
high dune. But, tempting though their project was, I
thought it better to start from a known point, and with
animals that were fresh and rested. And so that settled
the matter.
The caravan consisted of the following : Islam Bai, who
had already shared with me the horrors of the desert, Turdu
Bai, Ordek, and Kurban. We took with us seven camels
only and one horse, besides the two dogs, Yoldash and
Dovlet ; the greyhounds would have been unable to stand
the midwinter cold under the open sky.
My preparations were made with the greatest care. Not
a single unnecessary article v/as taken ; the camels must
have light loads to carry through the heavy sand. We took
with us rice and flour enough to last ten days, enough ready-
made bread for a fortnight, and for the same period a little
tea, talkan, or " roasted wheat flour," which is simply mixed
with water and eaten just as it is. For my own use I had
some tins of preserved food, tea, coffee and sugar, and the
men were provided with a huge packet of cube tea. We
were provisioned only as far as the little town of Cherchen,
where we should easily be able to renew our supplies. In
addition I carried with me the necessary instruments. Our
heavier baggage consisted of winter clothing and fur coats,
as well as felt carpets to sleep upon at night. On the other
hand, we were not cumbered with tents ; but during the
whole of the winter, a period of more than two months, I
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