488 Commercial Rout from the Caspian Sea to Chiwa and Bucharia. [Jan. 1, 
horses. Near the shores of Mangish- 
lak the sea produces coral. 
On descending into the plain, a lake 
is found in a nook of one of the above- 
mentioned branches of the hills, which 
was formed within the last twenty 
years, and is called Oi-bogur. Its 
water is fresh, full of fish from the 
Caspian sea, and is about 400 fathoms 
in circumference. This phenomenon 
is easily explained by the circum- 
stance, that during the inundations in 
spring, this little lake communicates 
with the Caspian by means of a bend 
in the river Amu, falling into the Lake 
of Aral, which has similar fish. 
© The sudden appearance of this lake 
must be ascribed to some earthquake. 
In many places in the mountains cavi- 
ties are found, which yield a hollow 
sound on being touched by a heavy 
substance; and one of these, which is 
very deep and dark, is said to have 
sunk with the weight of a caravan. 
Near the shore of Mangishlak, a 
mountain, named Abishtsha,constantly 
emits a sulphurous vapour from an 
open crater: black stones are scatter- 
ed all around it. 
The hills are generally covered with 
fogs, which the sun but rarely dis- 
perses for any length of time; and rain 
is also frequent. 
From the hills to Urgarsh the road 
is level; trees of different kinds grow 
by the side, especially one kind,ssaks- 
saul. This tree grows to the height 
of three fathoms, with long and thick 
branches, and is so hard that it is diffi- 
ce It to fell it with the axe. Its wood 
is, however, brittle, and sinks in the 
water. There are many wild beasts 
in this forest, lions not excepted. 
The wandering Turchomans occupy 
the Eastern side of the Caspian sea. 
Their immediate neighbours are the 
Chiwinzes, with whom they lve in 
peace; some of the Turchomans are 
in the service of the Chanaf Chiwa. 
They are a thievish malicious race, 
occupying themselves with the breed- 
ing of cattle, and agriculture; but they 
are not fond of trade, except the slave 
trade they carry on with Chiwa, by 
means of the unfortunate fishermen 
they take on the river Emba, or Em, 
on the borders of the government of 
Orenburgh, and the Persians they find 
opporiunities for kidnapping. They 
have often plundered the Bucharian 
caravans, in which they were assisted 
by ‘the Chiwinges.. A circumstance 
which has latterly induced many mer- 
chants to abandon this route, and take 
the direction of Grenburg Ssorotch- 
ckowski. 
TheKirgees, who now carry the cara- 
vans across the hills, are likewise a 
rude and thievish people: Their chief 
support is the breeding of cattle; but 
they are also employed in hunting and 
the manufacture of felt and camelot, 
from camel’s hair. 
Both the Turchomans and Kirgees, 
with the exception of those who have 
become subjects of Russia, live with- 
out any sort of government, although 
the former have princes, and the latter 
Shans, whom they scarcely ever obey. 
The Kirgees are rather afraid of the 
Chiwinges, and profess the Mahome- 
tan religion. Instructed by the Tur- 
chomans, they oppress the merchants, 
and levy a tax on their goods. ‘The 
Asiatics being of the same religion, 
and having formed a sort of friendly 
intercourse with these people, are in 
some measure exempt from these vex- 
ations. 
‘These robbers have lately ventured 
even on the Caspian, in boats taken 
from the Russian fishermen, and others 
which they have built on these models. 
They carry fire arms in them, and 
even attack large fishing vessels, al- 
though their fleets consists of only five 
beats. 
The distance from the lake Oi- 
Bogar to Upgansh, is five days. This 
place is important, as being the ren- 
devouz for all the caravans going from 
Bucharia, Chiwa to Russia, Turkey or 
Persia. To the left of the Chiwa, on 
the eastern side of lake Aral, dwell 
the Kara-Kalpaks, a wandering tribe, 
which is more peaceable than the 
Turchomans and Kirgees, and en- 
gaged in agriculture and the breeding 
of cattle. They were formerly govern- 
ed by Chans, to whom, however, they 
were not veryobedient. Subsequently 
one part submitted to the dominion of 
Russia, whilst the remainder became 
tributary to the Chiwinzer, The Chi- 
winstki caravans go from Urgansh to 
Chiva, the capital of the country, a 
distance of 70 wersts. But the Bach- 
arese only go with their caravans as 
far as their first town, El-Dshik, 
whither light bales are carried by land 
Within three days; whilst heavy bales 
are sent by the river Amer, on which 
they are dragged on badly con- 
structed rafts, by men, in about seven 
days, the use of oars and sails being 
perfectly unknown here. 
2 For 
