Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/72

Rh could make themselves. In order to prevent us seeing the town they led us by a circuitous path across the fields and were bare-faced enough to assure us that there was no better road. However, there was no help for it but to feign ignorance, as we also did on many subsequent occasions, however distasteful such a line of conduct was to persons like ourselves engaged in scientific inquiries of the highest importance. They suspected and deceived us at every step; the inhabitants were forbidden to hold any intercourse with or even to speak to us. We were in fact under surveillance, and our escort nothing but spies. Zaman Beg evidently felt the irksomeness of the situation at times, but he could not alter his demeanour towards us. Eventually at Lob-nor, when they became tired of watching us, their former distrust wore off a little, but at first the police inspection was of the strictest, and not a week passed but that a courier arrived either from Badaulat or the Tokhsabai "to inquire after our well-being," as Zaman Beg naively expressed it.

Everything tended to show that our journey to Lob-nor did not please Yakub Beg, though he could not refuse General Kauffmann, and a quarrel with Russia on the eve of a war with China would have been impolitic on his part.

Probably with the view of inducing us to renounce our further journey, they led us to the Tarim by the most difficult road, obliging us to