Volume 1

Travels in Tartary, Thibet and China during the years 1844-5-6 / by M. Huc ; translated from the French by W. Hazlitt.

  • Huc, Evariste Régis, 1813-1860.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Travels in Tartary, Thibet and China during the years 1844-5-6 / by M. Huc ; translated from the French by W. Hazlitt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    59/356 (page 33)
    fits and starts; it was first a stumble, then a convulsive jump, then another stumble and another jump, and so on. Their loads shook on their backs, and at every step we ex- pected to see the camel and camel-load prostrate in the mud. We considered ourselves lucky when, at distant in- tervals, we came to a comparatively dry spot, where the camels could travel, and we were thus enabled to readjust and tighten the baggage. Samdadchiemba got into a des- perate ill temper • he went on, and slipped, and went on again, without uttering a single word, restricting the visible manifestation of his wrath to a continuous biting of the lips. » Upon attaining at length the western extremity of the town, we got clear of the filth indeed, but found ourselves involved in another evil. Before us there was no road marked out, not the slightest trace of even a path. There was nothing but an apparently interminable chain of small hills, composed of fine, moving sand, over which it was impossible to advance at more than a snail’s pace, and this only with extreme labor. Among these sand-hills, moreover, we were oppressed with an absolutely stifling heat. Our animals were covered with perspiration, ourselves devoured with a burning thirst; but it was in vain that we looked round in all directions, as we proceeded, for water; not a spring, not a pool, not a drop presented itself. It was already late, and we began to fear we should find no spot favorable for the erection of our tent. The ground, however, grew by degrees firmer, and we at last discerned some signs of vegetation. By and by, the sand almost dis- appeared, and our eyes were rejoiced with the sight of con- tinuous verdure. On our left, et no great distance, we saw the opening of a defile. M. Gabet urged on his camel, and went to examine the spot. He soon made his appearance at the summit of a hill, and with voice and hand directed us to follow him. We hastened on, and found that Provi- dence had led us to a favorable position. A small pool, the waters of which were half concealed by thick reeds and other marshy vegetation, some brushwood, a plot of grass : what could we under the circumstances desire more ? Hungry, thirsty, weary as we were, the place seemed a per- fect Eden.