Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/95

76 the exiles, who are compelled to cultivate the land for Government, whilst the other inhabitants reap their own crops. The water used in irrigating the soil is led from the Chargalyk-daria, which flows from the neighbouring Altyn-tagh mountains, an elevated range south of Lob-nor.

Three hundred versts to the south-west of Chargalyk, and under one governor with it, stands the small town of Cherchen, on a river of the same name. Hence it is ten days' march in a south-west direction to the oasis of Nai (900 houses), and three days' further to the town of Keria, said to contain 3000 houses. From Keria there is a road to Khotan, viâ Djira, all three places being included in the territory of Kashgar. One day's journey from Keria gold is obtained in the mountains, and other gold-mines are situated five days' march from Cherchen, near the sources of the Cherchen-daria. The quantity of gold annually produced in these mines is said to be about 19 cwt., which finds its way into Yakub Beg's treasury. On the site of the present village of Chargalyk, remains of mud walls of an ancient city, called Ottogush-shari, may be seen. These ruins are