486 KAMI. OR KUMUL 



able tax, and even takes upon himself the responsi- 

 bility of posing as their spiritual leader. Even in this 

 out-of-the-way corner of the world there existed a strong 

 desire for freedom from an autocratic rule ; we noticed 

 a general feeling of discontent amongst the Khan's 

 subjects, who appeared eager to come directly under 

 Chinese rule. Up to the present the KumuHks have 

 possessed neither the initiative nor the enterprise to take 

 a decided step in any direction ; the man who has 

 " ideas " is immediately exiled, we met many such in 

 the outlying villages of the far corners of the Khan's 

 dominion. We found, too, that the hunters had been 

 deprived of their guns, these being forfeited on account 

 of an attempted rebellion the year before. 



The discontents endeavoured to emigrate ; this move 

 had to be carried out secretly and with a loss of their 

 possessions, for it was considered the worst of all crimes 

 to desire to leave the fatherly rule of the Moslem Khan 

 and to dwell in a heathen land. If Kumul were situated 

 nearer the Russian frontier, she would no doubt seek 

 Russian protection and thereby escape from the harsh 

 rule of the Chief. 



In addition to Kumul there are several small oases 

 on the plains, — Taranchi, Togucha, Astine, Lapchuk, 

 Toruk, Ta-shar, Khotun-tam, Karmukchi, Tashbulak, 

 Bai, Adak, Nom, — besides others hamlets composed of a 

 few farmsteads, but hardly worthy of the name of village. 

 These are all subject to the Khan ; but the main 

 bulk of the population who owe allegiance to him, — 

 outside the town of Kumul, — is made up of Taghliks, 

 or mountaineers, who live in small villages tucked away 

 amongst the rugged valleys of the Karlik Tagh ; here 

 they are left in greater seclusion, but pay their taxes in 



