Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-07-28

feet; we know that it sends off to the
west the Oxus and the Amou-Radia, and
to the east the Tarim; we know that II
chiefly consists of primary rocks, III
which are patches of schIst and quartz
red sands of secondary age, and the
clayey, sandy loess of the quaternary
period which is so abundant in Central
Asia.
The difficulties the Grand Transasiatic
had In crossing this plateau were ex-
tTaordinary. 1t was a challenge from
the genius of man to nature, and the
victory remained with genius. Through
the gently sloping passes which the Kirk
hizes call ''bels," viaducts, bridges, EN-
bankments, cuttings, tunnels had to be
made to carry the line. Here are sharp
curves, gradients, which require the most
powerful locomotives, here and there sta
tionary engines to haul up the train with
cables; in a word, herculean labor, su-
perior to the works of the American en-
gineers in the defiles of the Sierra Ne
vada and the Rocky mountains.
The desolate aspect of these terri
tories makes a deep impression on the
imagination. AS the train gains the high
er attitudes this impression is all the
more vivid. There are no towns, no
villages nothing but a few scattered
huts, in which the Pamirian lives soil
tary existence with his family, his herds
Of yaks, or "koutars," which are cattle
with horses tails, his diminutive sheep,
his thick-haired goats. The molting OF
these animals, If we may so phrase it, Is
a 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 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 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 a 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 OH the heights of the Pamir. 1t
is even necessary to keep an eye on the
platforms of the cars in case stray pam
ther or bear might seek 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-
! = A.
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
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 hOcks 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 wagtails.
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-
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
hope, or rather the conviction, that the
night will be as calm as the preceding
one.
1t was not to be so. At first the train
was running down the slopes of the Pa
mir at great speed. Then it resumed its
normal rate along the level.
It was about one in the morning when
I was suddenly awakened. At the same
time Major Noltitz and most Of our
companions jumped up. There weHe loud
shouts In the rear of the train. What
had happened?
Anxiety seized upon the travelers-that
confused, unreasonable anxiety caused
by the slightest incident on a railroad.
what is the matter? What is the
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 XII
Tsang, the Mongol pirate. In a moment
the train began to slow, evidently pre-
pairing to stop. Popof came into the van.
and l asked him what had happened,
"An accident" he replied. "a coupling
has broken, and the two last vans are
left behind"
Ito be contlnued.l