The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1902-06-04
SAND-BURIED CITIES.
Account Of the Interesting Discov-
cries by DR.. Stein in Chinese
Turkestan.

Our Representative las Aou a. -
| terview with DR.. M. A. Stein, who is re-
turning to India after making pre-
liminary arrangement of the remark-
| able finds brought to light during his
recent expedition in Chinese Iurke-
stan. saws the London Chronicle. The
/ cursory examination that has 50 far
| been possible within the short time
available reveals in a striking manner
and for the first time many points
bearing on the culture and daily lie
Of localities which for many centu-
ries - some for nearly 1000 years -
have been buried under a sea OF sand,
and whose history has hitherto been
practically a blank.
Speaking of this point, DR.. Stein says
now for the first time have been
brought to light some aspects Of the
everyday life, home industries and
arts Of the inhabitants Of the villages
of Chinese Turkestan which were aban-
doncd at the beginning of the Chris
tian era. The culture of the people
was derived mainly, from India, and
there can be no doubt the Inhabitants
were Buddhists. DR.. Stein added:
"Of special interest were the refuse
heaps which we unearthed near some
ruined houses, once apparently ten
anted by village officials--kinds OF
waste paper baskets, containing hum
dreds of documents beautifully writ
| ten on wooden tablets, and carefully
tied and sealed. Owing to the pre-
! servative nature of the sand many OF
these were in splendid condition-the
| ink as black as the seals and string as
| perfect as if they were only few
weeks old. As these documents are III
a known Indian script their decipher-
ing can be expected to reveal in fasci-
mating manner many of the details OF
the ancient village life. But it will be
task requiring years of close study,
as in India itself the materials avail
able Of this early script have 50 far
been very scanty. At sites less ancient
we also found paper documents in
sanskrit, Chinese and also Thibetan
manuscripts. Tn none Of the eXcaya-
fions did find any unknown charac-
ters.
sRound most of the sand-buried
houses were brought to light careful
lv planned little gardens with ave-
nues of trees, fenced lanes, orchards
and so forth. 1t was truly astonishing
on clearing away the sand to find un-
der the shriveled hedges heaps OF
dried leaves just as they had fallen in
ages gone by. The gardens were much
the same in character as those
still to be found in Tnrkestan
to-day. The trees were mostly
poplar and peach. mulberry and
apricot trees. There is no evj'
dence that these places were aban-
/, doned owing to any sndden catastro-
| phe. but their gradual desertion was
evidently due to the impossibility 81
continued irrigation. causing an adj
vance of the sand While articles OF
real value were therefore removed by
| their possessors. we found in the dwell
ing places many household implements
| Of small value. such as p'tchforks,
mousetraps. boots. chairs. shoe
makers lasts. etc.
am the ruined TEMPLES We found q
sort OF unintentional exhihi;son Of the
fabrics of these remote aces. for in
front of some of the idols were heaps
of torn shreGs Of elahora' ely worked
| silks and other fabrics which hed been
deposited as roiive offerings. In one
/ temple It was curious to note an In
stance where a p'Irr;ia. anxious ap-
parently to prop't:ase as many de-
tiles as possible. had torn into por-
tions a Thibetan manuscript. which he
had divided among the various idols
These fragments are now once more
united under glass panes.
"Nany colossal statues in stucco were
unearfhed from the monasteries and
temples. One Of the latter contained
IN its cloisters more than 100 stat
ues. all over life size. While as
many as possible of these were
cleared for the purpose Of taking
photographs. only few could be res.
cued. az when the protecting sand was
removed the great stuccoes threatened
TO collapse. owing to their inner
wooden work having rotted away,
However. interesting portions Of them
| were xucceeefullv brought awav"