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ADVENTURES IN NORTHERN TIBET. 245
expect to have to make long stages through an unknown
and waterless country, it was not advisable to take so many-
horses with us. Picking out, therefore, the three best,
I sent all the rest, together with a part of our disused and
unnecessary belongings, to Charkhlik, putting them in
charge of Tokta Akhun and Ahmed. At the same time I
gave them a letter to Cherdon and Islam Bai, containing
an enumeration of such supplies as we should require,
together with other instructions. Tokta Akhun was then
to take the supplies and three fresh unloaded horses, as
also the post-bag, which would in the meantime have
arrived from Kashgar, and go to Kum-chapghan, the
point where the Tarim empties into the Kara-koshun.
From there he was to continue for three days along the
northern side of the marsh, and then establish a permanent
camp, build a hut, and have ready at hand fishermen, who
were well acquainted with that part of the country, with
their canoes, and finally to lay in a stock of wild-duck and
fish, so that when we emerged from the heart of the desert,
we might find, not only shelter, but the wherewithal to
recuperate our energies. Besides all this he was to select
a hill that was visible a long way towards the north, and
every day, first at noon, and again immediately after dark,
he was to kindle a big fire, so that its smoke column and its
flames might serve us as a beacon. He was instructed to
be at the rendezvous at the latest on the forty-fifth day
after the 27th January, and was then to begin the signal
fires at once, and to continue them every day until he
heard from us. My plans were framed in blind dependence
upon this arrangement, for, unless I was deceived, our
position might be ratlier critical.
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