KAMI, OR KUMUL 491 



one with a peregrine, another a goshawk, and a third 

 bearing a magnificent golden-eagle. His guns were 

 brought for our inspection — a Mauser and a Winchester 

 rifle, a Browning automatic-pistol and a 12-bore shot- 

 gun; he showed us his camera, which he could not 

 work ; while his gramophone played to us English, 

 Russian, and Chinese music. 



Besides his residence in the capital, the Khan had two 

 country-seats, one at Ara-tam at the foot of the mountain, 

 and another in the high valley of Bardash ; both of these 

 we visited in the course of our journey through his 

 territory. As a landed proprietor, he had some of the 

 finest orchards in Central Asia, a considerable acreage 

 of corn-land, and large flocks and herds, these latter 

 being tended by forced labour, for the Khan exacted a 

 tax of five days' work out of every month, or two 

 months a year, from all his subjects. 



We asked him how far his territory extended, and 

 with a sweep of the arm he said, " All that you see is 

 mine, and more that you cannot see — behind the moun- 

 tain." This was more or less correct, for although a 

 portion of the Barkul Range which is visible to the north- 

 west of Kumul does not actually belong to him, yet it is 

 ■an uninhabited country and not of much consequence. 

 All that is of value within view of the capital is under 

 the Khan. The plains are dotted with occasional oases — 

 miniature Kumuls, which are situated wherever water 

 -approaches the surface and allows irrigation ; but the 

 Karlik Tagh Mountains really compose the greater part, 

 as well as the most important part, of the Khan's do- 

 minion. About 7,500 square miles lie under his rule, and 

 of this nearly one-half is taken up by the rugged ranges 

 and high plateaux which provide pasture for the flocks and 



