Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/354

342 sands and marshes, would sometimes interrupt the communications. Here, the print of a few footsteps would alone show the route that had to be followed; at other places the presence of man was alone apparent by the destruction of forests, or the ruins of former habitations. When the rivers had returned to their beds, or when the tide of war had swept on to other regions, the caravans would again set out, not unfrequently only to encounter new obstacles, that patience and time could alone overcome; and but to reach at last the end of a journey after years spent in fatigue, during which the strain upon their courage and strength had never ceased.

In the remoter parts of Asia all these difficulties are even now to be met with. When we passed through Tartary and Thibet, Ave had to encounter the same obstacles as those which opposed the progress of travellers in the middle ages. Instead of having been diminished, they have perhaps even increased, since these numerous hordes have ceased to obey a single sovereign. Time has destroyed most of the towns, the roads uniting them have been broken up; such slight traces of cultivation as used to appear at intervals have been buried beneath the sands of the desert; and some new difficulty will meet the traveller through these desolated regions at every step. To meet with other men, which in civilised countries re-animates the traveller, and gives the hope of assistance, is here regarded as a new cause for fear, and it not unfrequently happens, that two caravans crossing the same plain, will suspiciously watch each other and arm them- selves, as if expecting an enemy, will arrange the ranks of their escort, increase the pace of their horses, cross