THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 75 



boundaries. I could ejive a ^re^t many proofs that the 

 kumiss is a very wholesome and nutritious beverapje. It 

 may suffice to mention here, that the gfovemor of OrpnburiT 

 returned at that time from the Ural Mountains, where he 

 had used the kumiss as a cure with great benefit. I may 

 observe also, that it is introduced at the tables of the 

 nobility at Orenburg and several other places. It was 

 especially drunk bv weak persons and children, as a whole- 

 some potion. Kumiss is a palatable and intoxicating 

 drink, it being produced by fermentation, and consequently 

 spirituous. They prepare it by pouring the mare's-milk into 

 seasoned goat-skins, which are continually tossed about until 

 it begins to ferment, According to the opinion of the Kirgises 

 the kumiss is better when the milk is procured from mares 

 of different colours. The fresher it is, the better for the health. 

 To give the reader a slight synopsis of my journey from 

 Bokhara to Russia, a little map, on which the thirty-five 

 stations are traced, is annexed. 



On my arrival at Orenburg, I was greatly delighted to 

 meet with several German generals, who were in the Russian 

 service, and also German physicians. The deep impression 

 which this meeting made upon me, can only be conceived 

 by those who, like me, had for several years been deprived of 

 all intercourse with their countrymen. But that enthusiasm 

 was increased still more, when I was told that a new mode 

 of curing diseases had been discovered, diametrically opposite 

 to that which had hitherto been followed. 



Who will blame me for having this irresistible and ardent 

 desire to see Europe once more ? Providence had appeared 

 to yield me an opportunity of extending the horizon of my 

 knowledge, for the benefit of mankind ; and the same 

 internal voice which twenty years before had induced me 

 to abandon my friends, my relatives and my dear native 

 country, admonished me also to renounce the favor of a 

 powerful ruler, the prospects of becoming powerful myself, 

 and the influence by means of which I could enjoy the most 

 splendid ease, in order to be instrumental in iotroducing 

 a hitherto unknown healing system. 



H 



