The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-07-29


try existence with bis family. his herds
Of yaks, or ''keutars." which are cattle
| with horses tails, his diminutive sheep,
his thiek-hairsd goats. The Noting Of
/ these animals. II we may 90 phrase Il, 10
natural consequence Of the climate. and
| they change the dressing gown Of winter
I for the white fur coat Of summer. II IL
/ the same with the dog, whose coat be-
comes whittier In the hot season.
As the passes are assembled, wide
breaks In the ranges yield frequent
glimpses Of the more distant portions Of
the plateau. In many places are elumps
of birches and jumpers. which are the
principal trees Of the Pamir, and on the
nndulating plains grow tamarisks aud
sedges and mugwort. and a sort Of reed
very abundant by the sides OF the saline
pools, and a dwarf lahiate called tiers
kenne" by the kirghizes.
The major mentioned certain animals
which constitute somewhat varied
fauna on the heights of the PamiF. IL
Ii even necessary to keep an eye ON the
platforms Of the cars in case a stray pan
Their or bear might seek ride without
any right to travel either first or second
class. During the day our companions
the cars. What shouts arose when plan
tigrades or felines eapered along the line
with intentions that certainly seemed
suspicious! 4 few revolver shots were
discharged. without much necessity per-
haps. but they amused as well al reas-
sured the travellers. In the afternoon we
were witnesses Of a magnificent shot,
which killed instantly an enormous pam
frNaa ~. Il
step Of the third carriage.
II was our superb Mongol to whom
we were indebted for this uaarksman's
masterpiece.
What a hand and what an eyer said
! TO the major, who continued to look on
Faruskiar with suspicion
Among the other animals Of the Pa
miriam fauna appeared wolves and foxes,
and nocks Of those large wild sheep with
gnarlsd and gracefully curved horns.
which are known to the natives az ar
kaFs. High In the sky few the vultures,
bearded and unbearded. and amid the
clouds OF white vapor we left behind IA
were many crows and pigeons and turtle
doves and wRgtnils.
The day passed without adventure. AT
o'clock in the evening we crossed the
frontier, after a run Of nearly two thou.
sand three hundred kilometers. accom-
pliahed in four days since leaving Uzun
Ada Two hundred and nifty kilometers
beyond we shall be at Kachgar. Al
though we are now Ia Chinese Turkes-
tan, It will not be till we reach that town
that we shall have our first experience
Of Chinese administration
Dinner over about nine O'Clock, we
stretched ourselves on our beds, In the
hope, or rather the conviction, that the
night will be as calm as the preceding
one.
IL was not to be so. At first the trail.
was running down the slopes Of the I'm.
mir Mt great speed. Then II resumed its
normal rate along the level.
II was about one in the morning when
| was suddenly awakened. AT the same
time Major Noltitz aud most Of our
companions jumped up, There were loud
shouts In the rear Of the train. What
had happened7
Anxiety seized upon the raveler4-that
confused. unreasonable anxiety caused
By the slightest incident on a railroad.
What Is the matteE7 What Is the
matterY' =,
These words were uttered Ia alarm
from all sides, and In different langua gez
My hFst thought was that we we're at
tackled. l thought Of the famous XII
Tang the Mongol pirate. In moment
the train began to slow. evidently pre-
pairing to stop. Popof came into the van,
and I asked him what had happened
An accident" he replied. "A coupling
has broken. and the two last vans are
left behind
ITO be eantlnuaAl