Niya

Empty cities of an old kingdom in the desert

Editorial contextCrossing the drifting sands east of Niya, travellers piled up bones to mark the way, and people heard singing or wailing that led them astray, which Xuanzang blames on demons. After 400 li he reached the 'old country of Tukhara', long empty, its cities all desolate. He credits the ruins to a vanished kingdom, not to any Turks or Tartars.

So those who come and go pile up the bones of the dead to mark the way. Water and grass are lacking and hot winds are frequent... At times one hears singing and whistling, or wailing and crying, and between what is seen and heard one is bewildered and does not know where one is going; many die this way, which is the work of demons and goblins. Going 400 li or so one reaches the old country of Tukhara. The country has long been empty and its cities are all in ruins.

Working translation

Original wording

是以往來者聚遺骸以記之乏水草多熱風…時聞歌嘯或聞號哭視聽之間怳然不知所至由此屢有喪亾蓋鬼魅之所致也行四百餘里至覩貨邏故國國久空曠城皆荒蕪

About The old Tukhara kingdom (not Turks)