大唐西域記 12.48

12.48

媲摩川東入沙磧，行二百餘里，至尼攘城，周三四里，在大澤中。澤地熱濕，難以履涉；蘆草荒茂，無復途徑，唯趣城路，僅得通行。故往來者莫不由此城焉。而瞿薩旦那以為東境之關防也。從此東行入大流沙，沙則流漫，聚散隨風，人行無迹，遂多迷路。四遠茫茫，莫知所指，是以往來聚遺骸以記之。乏水草，多熱風；風起則人畜惛迷，因以成病。時聞歌嘯，或聞號哭。視聽之間，恍然不知所至，由此屢有喪亡，蓋鬼魅之所致也。

To the east of the valley of Pima we enter a sandy desert, and after going 200 li or so, we come to the town of Ni-jang. This city is about 3 or 4 li in circuit; it stands in a great marsh; the soil of the marsh is warm and soft, so that it is difficult to walk on it. It is covered with rushes and tangled herbage, and there are no roads or pathways; there is only the path that leads to the city, through which one can pass with difficulty, so that every one coming and going must pass by this town. The king of Kustana makes this the guard of his eastern frontier. Going east from this, we enter a great drifting sand desert. These sands extend like a drifting flood for a great distance, piled up or scattered according to the wind. There is no trace left behind by travellers, and oftentimes the way is lost, and so they wander hither and thither quite bewildered, without any guide or direction. So travellers pile up the bones of animals as beacons. There is neither water nor herbage to be found, and hot winds frequently blow. When these winds rise, then both men and beasts become confused and forgetful, and then they remain perfectly disabled (sick). At times sad and plaintive notes are heard and piteous cries, so that between the sights and sounds of this desert men get confused and know not whither they go. Hence there are so many who perish in the journey. But it is all the work of demons and evil spirits.