Detail from the index map for Innermostasia - map sheets 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13 - this shows the western Taklamakan with the Yarkand- Kashgar rivers to the west, the Khotan river near the center and the Keriya river on the east, all flowing northto the Tarim river (except the Keriya River dies out in the sand. There is a short red line south-east from Karal-bashi showing Stein's aborted effort to move directly across the desert to Mazar-tagh fort on the Khotan river. He was forced back by high sand dunes and instead followed the Yarkand river north-east to the confluence of Khotan, Ak-su and Tarim Rivers before turning south to Mazar-tagh. From Tawakkel he crossed desert to Dandan-Uiliq.