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149
CHAPTER XII.
BOAT EXCURSIONS ON THE STORMY LAKES.
No sooner had the echo of the caravan-bells died away
in the forest than I, with Sirkin, Ordek and some men to
paddle, set off from the ferry-boat in two canoes, to map
and sound the lake of Golme-ketti on the right bank of
the Tarim. This lake, which is barely six miles long, lies
embedded amongst gigantic dunes. Current and paddles
helping them, our light craft danced merrily down the
river, and shot into the narrow canal which connects the
stream with the lake. The bright green, white-crested
waters of the Golme-ketti stretched a long way to the south.
But it was a rather dangerous journey, for the wind in-
creased to half a gale. Even whilst on the river we had
had to stop two or three times to bale. Now, however,
we had the broad deep lake before us, and its waves were
running high. Deep did I say ? indeed no. For a long
way out the water was so shallow that, when our canoes
dipped down into the troughs of the waves, they were in
danger of grounding on the sandy bottom. The real danger
lay in a wave striking us broadside on. For your Lop
canoe is a mere cockle-shell of a thing, hewn out of a single
poplar-stem, and round underneath, so that one who is
unaccustomed to it has the greatest possible difficulty in
keeping his balance. At the least movement over turns
the canoe, and its occupant is spilled into the water.
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