TASHKENT. 199 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



ACROSS THE STEPPES OF TURKESTAN. 



A Russian capital in Asia — Old Tashkent — Its capture by the Russians — 

 Railway projects — The Tashkent-Orenburg line — The Tomsk-Tash- 

 kent line — Advantages of post-roads — Carriages purchased — Method 

 of travelling — A post-house — Rate of speed attainable — The steppes of 

 Turkestan — The life of the steppe — Tchimkent — The Chinese frontier 

 — Through Semirechensk — The Siberian frontier — Monotony of travel 

 — The character of the steppe borderland — Semipalatinsk — From 

 Semipalatinsk to Barnaul — Reach Barnaul. 



When one speaks of Tashkent at the present day, one 

 refers to a modern Russian town with a population of 

 between 40,000 and 50,000, which has not yet seen its 

 fortieth anniversary. Broad, airy streets, with channels 

 of running water and avenues of tall poplar- trees, behind 

 which rise rows of well-built houses and excellent shops, 

 everywhere meet the eye ; while shady public gardens, 

 an imposing-looking college, where, among other accom- 

 plishments, the rising generation are taught the English 

 tongue, and an excellent Government House, which has 

 sheltered men with names writ large in the records of 

 Russian expansion in Asia, and where now, beloved 

 and respected by all around him, General Ivanoff 

 resides in his capacity of Governor-General of the 

 vast district of Turkestan, further serve to apprise 



