Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/71

52 where Yakub Beg was superintending the erection of fortifications, to protect himself against the Chinese.

The day following our arrival at Korla one of Badaulat's personal suite, a certain Zaman Beg, formerly a Russian subject, born at Nukha in Trans-Caucasia, and probably of Armenian extraction, paid us a visit. Having been actually at one time in the Russian service he spoke Russian fluently, and at once informed us that he had been sent by Badaulat to accompany us to Lob-nor—a piece of news that disconcerted us not a little, for I well knew that he was sent as a spy on our movements, and that his presence would be rather embarrassing than otherwise. Zaman Beg was, however, personally disposed to be friendly, and showed us all the attentions he could, for which I cannot be too grateful. Indeed, we got on better with him at Lob-nor than with any other of Yakub Beg's officials.

We left Korla for Lob-nor on the 4th of November. Besides the members of our own party the caravan included Zaman Beg, his servants, and a hadji. Hardly had we started than our companions showed us how disagreeable they