Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-06-16

tary existence with his family, his herds
of yaks, or "koutars," which are cattle
with horses tails, his diminutiye sheep,
his thick-haired goats. The molting Of
these animals, If we may SO phrase 1t, is
natural consequence of the climate, and
they change the dressing gown OF winter
for the white fur coat of summer. 1t Is
the same with the dog, whose coat be-
comes winter in the hot season.
As the passes are ascended, wide
breaks in the ranges yield frequent
glimpses of the more distant portions of
the plateau. In many places are clumps
of birches and jumpers, which are the
principal trees of the Pamir, and on the
undulating plains grow tamarisks and
sedges and mugwort, and sort OF reed
very abundant by the sides of the saline
pools, and a dwarf labiate called ''ters-
kenne" by the kirghizes.
The major mentioned certain animals
which constitute a somewhat varied
fauna on the heights of tile Pamir. 1t
is even necessary to keep an eye on the
| platforms of the cars in case stray pam
ther or bear might seek a ride without
| any right to travel either first or second
class. During the day our companions
were on the lookout from both ends of
| the cars. What shouts arose when plan
tigrades or felines capered along the line
with intentions that certainly seemed
suspicious! A few revolver shots were
discharged, without much necessity per-
haps, but they amused as well as reas-
sured the travellers. In the afternoon we
were witnesses of a magnificent shot,
which killed instantly an enormous pam
ther just as he was landing on the side
step of the third carriage.
| 1t was our superb Mongol to whom
we were indebted for this marksman's s
| masterpiece.
"What hand and what an eyew said
I 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 focks of those large wild sheep with
gnarled and gracefully curved horns,
which are known to the natives as ar
kars. High in the sky flew the vultures,
bearded and unbearded, and amid the
clouds of white vapor we left behind us
were many crows and pigeons and turtle
doves and wagteils.
The day passed without adventure. AT
6 o'clock in the evening we crossed the
frontier, after a run of nearly two thou
| 6duo LII &C huIlUIcU hllOuSlcIS, dCCOm-
plished in four days since leaving Uzun
Ada. Two hundred and fifty kilometers
beyond we shall be at Kachgar. AL
though we are now in 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
| y.ofh %tn sofs %Io% = H.
night will be as calm as the precedins
one.
1t was not to be so. At first the trai1
was running down the slopes of the Pa
mir at great speed Then it resumed it.
normal rate along the level.
1t was about one in the morning whe1
was suddenly awakened. At the sam,
time Major Noltitz and most of ou
, companions jumped up. There were louc
, shouts in the rear of the train. Wha
had happened?
Anxiety seized upon the travelers-tha
J confused, unrea sonable anxiety causet
: by the slightest incident on railroad.
: "What is the matter? What is tn
matterY
These words were uttered in alarm
: from all sides, and in different languages
/ My first thought was that we were at
! tackled. / thought of the famous Ki
E Tsang, the Mongol pirate. In momen
] the train began to slow, evidently pre-
' pairing to STOP. Popof came into the var
!, and I asked him what had happened
3 can accident" he replied. ''A couplin
8 has broken. and the two last vans ar
e left behind"
q CTo be continued.