LIFE IN CENTRAL ASIA. 



[MAGA. MAY 1857.] 



AGAIN" the course of events is directing the pro- 

 gress of British influence and empire towards 

 the savage mountains and wild deserts of Central Asia, 

 which, possibly enough, may never directly repay the 

 cost of occupation, but constitute not the less on 

 that account the citadel of the East, and would be 

 most valuable to us in political and military points 

 of view. 



In these present circumstances, and under the 

 shadow of coming events, it may not be amiss for 

 us to give some sketches of Central Asia, of its in- 

 habitants and their singular life. Abundance of 

 interesting material on this subject exists in works 

 already published ; but these works are in themselves 

 so well worthy of perusal, that we prefer drawing on 

 the stock of our own personal experience, not without 

 the hope that even a few slight sketches may direct 

 some readers to the writings of more enterprising and 

 accomplished travellers. For, perhaps, there is no 



