TI1IAN SHAN NANLtT. 



THIAN SHAN NANLU. 



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tfcao the orlherB duiou which w* have ju.t notict A. It i* clii.-ily 

 i af to* nvn lb*t the ground u cultivable Tho principal 

 traHun an no*, wheel, barioy. and millet, ilk bran* 

 _ The mulberry plantation* an extensive, and large 

 of ilk an ooUecUd at Yarkiand ; ooUon, heiup, aud Bax 

 VWB. Fruit-tree* an abundant. Melon* and cucumbers are 

 e/*seeU*i>t qoality. Th* greaser part of tb* country ii oorered with 

 (IBM. weUlly those traeU which an mountainous, aod accordingly 

 R-lI-ali In Lanes and abeep. Tk wool collected in the** parU u 

 ft very taw quality. Than ar* numerous herds of cattle and camels. 



AVoof UM bee* of the ThmmgliiiK our knowledge U limited to Uie 

 IncU that mirrouod the town of Kkotan, when a Urge district U 

 under aoHhmtioo, aod produeaa rice, wheat and millet, cotton, liemp, 

 and *" ; lam* quantities of ailk of the firat quality are collected. 

 Tb* ioyards are extensive. Some plant* are raised which yield 

 dyeiaf-etuBa, which ar* exported to China. Amon? the domestic 

 ateali the yak i* numerous, and also bone* and sheep. North of 

 that cultivated tract the deaert of Kwa-kitai, or Kikistan, mostly 

 eerered with aand. and extending westward to the vicinity of Yarkiang. 

 awl Mortbward to the banks of the Yarkiang Dana. 



Cliaefr _ Toe climate of the Tbian Shan Nanlu is distinguished by 

 Hurt drynoe which it obaracterislic of all table-lands which are cou- 

 idafmbly elevated above tb* sea. Heavy gales are very frequent, and 

 <Arn so strong as to throw dowu travellers and their beasts of burden. 

 Tb* smiseliir* required for the growth of plants is derived from the 

 mintein rivers, which yield an abundant supply of water for about 

 two at three months of the year. In the districts couth of the Thian 

 Moan Nanlu Mountain* largo reservoirs have been made, which are filled 

 by tb* watercourses after the melting of the snow, aud from these 

 leseiniirs the greater part of the water supply ia taken. The western 

 ar* much colder in winter ; at Yarkiang the river is for three 

 i covered with thick ice, and caravans pass over it with their 

 of burden. The heat in summer is very great all over the 

 _ but the cold of the winter seems to decrease an we proceed 

 from west to east, a* frost U hardly known at Hami. The country in 

 subject to earthquakes. An extinct volcano exists in the Thiau Shall 

 Mountain*, and traces of volcanic action ore frequently met with in 

 Okat range. 



Th* diiin*liii animal* of Europe abound, with the exception of hogs, 

 which ar* only kept by the few Chinese settled in the country ; the 

 other inhabitants, being Mohammedans, hold this animal iu abhor- 

 rence. Camels are kept in the plains and on the mountains. In the 

 TartaaUing Mountains the yak i* reared by the Kirghis ; the larger 

 iprfftt* of the domestic animals are found in a wild state in the deserts 

 of Thian Shan Nanlu. Of wild sheep there appear to be several kinds. 

 On the Thian Shan Mountains the argali is found, and on the Tartaah- 

 liag the kutch-kar and the ran above mentioned. Among wild animals 

 an jackals, tigers, wolves, lynxes, aud foxes. On the Thiau Shan 

 Mountains a black eagle of great aise is met with, and on the Tartash 

 ling a still larger kind, called syrym. 



Uold M said to be found in the affluents of the Kkoton Darin, am' 

 also in the eastern portion of the Thian Shan Mountains. Copper and 

 iron an found at several places, and are worked. From the Thiau 

 Khan Mountains sulphur and sal-amuiouiac, asbestos and saltpetre, are 

 obtained. Several precious stone* are abundant, and two kinds, the 

 j*w and the agate, form considerable articles of commerce to Chins, 

 tfaafe. The bulk of the population ia of Turkish origin. The 

 of Tbian Shan Nanlu is not intermixed, as that of the other 

 tribe*, with terms derived from the Persian and Arabic 

 language*, and it U considered the purest of the Turkish dialects 

 The Turks of Thian Shan Nanlu are divided into two tribes, Ak-tak 

 and Kara-uk, which bate one mother, and frequently make war on 

 each other. Each tribe ia ruled by it* own chief, or Beg, the Chinese 

 rsisivi**; to themselves only military afiaira, police, aud customs. The 

 army which the Chin*** keep in the country, and which amounts tc 

 b*tv**o W.OOO and 30,000 men, is commanded by Mantchoo officers 

 The tribute which tb* Chinese government levies upon the inhabitant 

 i* all. but is somewhat increased by the duty on imports. The 

 iahabitanu however are much oppressed by their own chiefs, and the 

 Chine** do not interfere between them. The foreign commerce 

 carried on partly by the Turks, but mostly by the Tajicka. Both 

 an Mohammedan*. The Tajkks, or Tadjicks, are that nation which 

 tmttut tfa* Persian a* it* native language, and which U widelj 

 s|sel over Central Asia, In other countries their industry is most)' 

 sfreUal 



l to the cultivation of the soU, but in Thian 8han Natilu th 

 an chiefly engaged in trade. They conform in costume to the Turks 

 bat preserve their own language. Then are in the eastern districts 

 specially ia th* town of Kami and it* vicinity, a considerable number o 

 Oluth Kalmucks, who after the defeat of tuoUaldan quietly submittec 

 to the *way of the Mantchoo*. [BoKUAWi.J Th* number of Chines 

 11 ff i"!*, *?*" ib * ot&cen ot government, a small number ii 

 established in the Urge commercial towns as merchants and traders 

 In th* mountains at the north-went corner of Thian Shan Nanlu is 

 tribe of Kirghi*. called th* Kara-Kirghi., and another tribe of tha 

 ' i i* met wjlh in tk range, of thn Tsrtashliug. Both are nomad i 



Ctmmtnt, TWiM, 



Mtt irom/ocdum About 1800 yean ago 

 i established, which traverses this country in 



until from east to wet, and by which the commerce between China 

 ud Western Asia has been carried on nearly without interruption. 

 'ki road passes through the countries which lie along the base of tlio 

 'hian Shan Mountains. Another road, which has probably been used 

 ar an equal length of time, connect* Thiau Shaii Naulu and China with 

 northern parts of India, especially with Cashmir, and is also much 



used at the present day. 



The caravans of China, bound for the western countries, or Siyu, 

 they are called, after leaving the town of ShaUheou and the gate of 

 via-yu-kooan [TABUUT], pass through the Desert of liau-hai, aud arrive 

 fter twenty days' journey at Kami (42 63' N. lat, 93 50' K. Km.O. 

 /ami, otXko.mil, is a fortified place, surrounded by high walls, win. ii 

 nclose a space about two miles aud a hull' in circuit. The town is 

 urrounded by largo suburbs, and ia populous. The streets are straight 

 nd regular, but the houses low aud built of dried clay. The ili 



round the town is carefully cultiv.i- 

 'About 240 miles west of Kami is Putt/tan, a fortress which is nearly 



2 miles in circuit, and near which the caravan road passes. About 

 miles farther is Turf an, a considerable place, which however si: 

 uuch iu the wars of the lost century. Kurculuw is 2UO wiles west of 

 'urfan. Its fortress does not exceed one mile in circuit. Tho town is 

 luptiloux, and built on the banks of the Kaidu liiver. Its c 

 xinsiderable; the inhabitants excel iu embroidery. Kurd, ortiuninyli, 

 s situated on that portion of the Kaidu Uiver which couucf 

 Jostu-Nor with Lop-Nor, aud contains a population of about 4000 

 ndividuals. The soil iu the viciuity is very fertile. The town is 

 >0 miles distant from Karashor to the south-west, liui-ur, or Sugar, 



nearly 200 miles distant from Kurli, contains 10,000 inhabitants, aud 

 ias a considerable commerce iu copper, oil, sheep-akiun, butter, aud 

 "urn, especially lynx -skins. 



Kuttlie, which is 100 miles distant from Bugur, is a large town, 

 which is three miles ill circumference, and contains a great popula- 

 tion, of which 6000 are Turks. The mountains north of the town 

 contain several mines, from which copper, saltpetre, sulphur, aud sal- 

 ammoniac, are obtained. At this town begins the road which leads 

 across the Thian .Shun Mountains to Kuldsha iu Ili, by the mountain 

 pass called Musur Dabahu. Before it reaches the mountain pass, it 

 runs through the town of Kailim, which is built in an elevated valley, 

 aud near some mines. South-west of Kutahe is the town of Xltuyai , 

 in a district producing abundance of rice, melons, aud fruit. It 

 contains a population of 4000 individuals. 



In the valley of the Aksu Daria are the towns of Aksu aud Ushi. 

 A km is a large commercial and manufacturing town, which contains 

 about 6000 houses. It is not fortified. Its commercial importance is 

 derived from its situation at the junction of the road from Kuhi -h.i 

 in iSongaria with the great western caravan route. Its manufacture* 

 are numerous, especially those of cotton-stuffs, and a kiud of stuff, 

 half silk aud half cotton, deer-leather, harness aud saddles (which 

 are embossed with great art). There are also some potteries, aud 

 many persons are employed in cutting find polishing precious stones. 

 The Chinese garrison, consisting of 3000 men, inhabits a separate 

 quarter of the town. Uthi, which lies higher up in the valley of the 

 Aksu Daria, is built in the centre of an extensive country of great 

 fertility, and is stated to contain 10,000 families. This place appears 

 to carry ou a considerable commerce. 



The town of Ktuhgar is situated in the north-western angle of 

 Thian Shan Nanlu, aud at the commencement of the mountain road 

 which leads to Ferghana and the towns of Khokand and Tashkend. 

 At this place also begins the other caravan-road, which, passing along 

 the eastern declivity of the Tartashling, leads over the Karakorum 

 Pass to Leh, Qertope, and Cashmir. Besides these two lines of com- 

 munication and the great caravan-road to China, a fourth road, com- 

 mencing at Koshgir, runs north-east over the Thian Shau Mountains 

 by the llowat Pass, to Kuldsha and the banks of the Irtish. These 

 roads concentrating at Kashgar render it one of the most couiuier i .1 

 towns in the interior of Asia. It is said to contain 15,000 houses, 

 and a population of 80,000. All persons who are of Turkish origin 

 have free access to the town ; but the entry of Europeans is prevented 

 by the Chinese authorities. In the middle of the town is a large 

 square, from which four extensive bazaars branch off. The Ci 

 garrison consists of 8000 m x n, who are stationed here to repress any 

 invasion from the side of Khokand. aud are quartered in a strong 

 fortress. The manufactures are mlk-stutis, as satin, duina.sk, cottons, 

 lus. The jewellers arc very expert iu cutting the yew and in working 

 gold. Kashgar suffered much by the invasion and rebellion of the 

 Kodjas (1827). South-west of Kashgar is the important town of Tatlt- 

 balnj, on the banks of the Yamau-yar Uiver. On the road leading 

 from Kashgar to Yarkiang is Ycnyi Jfissar, a place of considerable 

 extent. 



Yarkiang, or Yarkand, may be considered the capital of Thian 

 Shan Nanlu, as the Chinese military governor generally resides here. 

 The city or fortress is surrounded by a high wall of stone, and is 

 more than three miles in circumference. Numerous suburbs lie 

 round it In the fortress a garrison of 7000 men is kept. The houses 

 are mostly built of sun-dried bricks. The river Yarkiang Daria is 

 divided iuto two arms, and by cauals from them the streets ore 

 supplied with water. There are numerous public buildings, espe- 

 cially mosques and medrasaes, or colleges. There are two largo 



