DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0064
30
TRAVELS IN TURKISTAN.
back wben lie clid, we would probably bave lost for a time tbe
opportnnity of visiting Eastern Turkistan and exploring tbe
Pamirs. Yakub Kban succeeded, bowever, by clint of good
arrangements and bard travelling, in reacbing Sbabidulla on tbe
23d of October. AVe were overtaken on tbe 3d, at Tagar, in
tlie Nubra valley, by Mulla Artuk, tbe envoy’s special messenger
to tbe Atalik, wbo also brougbt a letter from tbe same to Mr.
Forsytb. Tbe Mulla liad travelled so far from Egypt in twenty-
eigbt clays, and reacbecl Sbabidulla, a distance of 177 miles
fartlier on, over tbe bigb Susser, Karakoram, ancl Suget passes,
on tlie 9tb, six days later.
Tbe clistances clone by tliese special couriers, riding tbe
same borses day after day, is remarkable. Mulla Artuk, above
mentioned, reacbed Sbabidulla witb tbe same liorses tbat be
took from our camp in Nubra. Haji Mebmet, anotber similar
messenger, overtook me on tbe 24tb, 36 miles beyond Sbabi-
dulla, riding clirect from Aktagb, wliicb be left the previous
clay, travelling 62 miles in twenty-nine bours, ancl crossing tbe
bigb Suget ancl Sanju passes. He was despatchecl by Yakub
Kban to announce to tbe Atalik bis arrival at tbe frontier.
Tbe rate of travelling is of course greatly increased in tbe open
country, ancl on tbe roads between tbe large towns, wbere
posting-stations are establisbecl for rapicl communication. Tbe
borses are urgecl to tbe utmost by tlie riders, wbose exertions
are largely stimulated by bope of reward and fear of punish-
ment. A rapid journey is invariably rewardecl, ancl delay is
immecliately noticed in a converse manner, no excuse being
allowed. No feeling of akismut” influences the messenger
as lie struggles bard, ancl spares neitber bimself nor borse in
tbe endeavour to out-gallop all otbers and get a bigber reward,
TRAVELS IN TURKISTAN.
back wben lie clid, we would probably bave lost for a time tbe
opportnnity of visiting Eastern Turkistan and exploring tbe
Pamirs. Yakub Kban succeeded, bowever, by clint of good
arrangements and bard travelling, in reacbing Sbabidulla on tbe
23d of October. AVe were overtaken on tbe 3d, at Tagar, in
tlie Nubra valley, by Mulla Artuk, tbe envoy’s special messenger
to tbe Atalik, wbo also brougbt a letter from tbe same to Mr.
Forsytb. Tbe Mulla liad travelled so far from Egypt in twenty-
eigbt clays, and reacbecl Sbabidulla, a distance of 177 miles
fartlier on, over tbe bigb Susser, Karakoram, ancl Suget passes,
on tlie 9tb, six days later.
Tbe clistances clone by tliese special couriers, riding tbe
same borses day after day, is remarkable. Mulla Artuk, above
mentioned, reacbed Sbabidulla witb tbe same liorses tbat be
took from our camp in Nubra. Haji Mebmet, anotber similar
messenger, overtook me on tbe 24tb, 36 miles beyond Sbabi-
dulla, riding clirect from Aktagb, wliicb be left the previous
clay, travelling 62 miles in twenty-nine bours, ancl crossing tbe
bigb Suget ancl Sanju passes. He was despatchecl by Yakub
Kban to announce to tbe Atalik bis arrival at tbe frontier.
Tbe rate of travelling is of course greatly increased in tbe open
country, ancl on tbe roads between tbe large towns, wbere
posting-stations are establisbecl for rapicl communication. Tbe
borses are urgecl to tbe utmost by tlie riders, wbose exertions
are largely stimulated by bope of reward and fear of punish-
ment. A rapid journey is invariably rewardecl, ancl delay is
immecliately noticed in a converse manner, no excuse being
allowed. No feeling of akismut” influences the messenger
as lie struggles bard, ancl spares neitber bimself nor borse in
tbe endeavour to out-gallop all otbers and get a bigber reward,