Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/52

Rh companions, and one of the Cossacks. We were all admirably armed; besides fowling-pieces each carried a Berdan rifle swung over the shoulder, and a brace of pistols in our holsters.

Our original plan was to proceed to Lob-nor, explore as much of this lake and its environs as possible, and then return to Kulja, leave our collections here, and taking our remaining supplies, start for Tibet.

On the morning of the 12th of August we took our departure from Kulja, accompanied by the good wishes of our countrymen resident at that town.

Our road lay at first up and almost alongside the bank of the Ili, whose valley is here thickly settled by Taranchis. Clean, pretty villages with gardens, shaded by lofty silver poplars, follow each other in quick succession. In the intervals are corn-fields irrigated by numerous watercourses, whilst on the meadows along the river's bank large herds of sheep, oxen, and horses are grazing. The population is everywhere apparently prosperous; the Mohammedan rising never having

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