176 REPORT— 1860. 



ness. For dwellings, they erect for themselves miserable huts constructed of bam- 

 boo and the leaves of various trees. 



The contempt with which they are universally treated by their neighbours, the 

 Hindoos, has rendered them extremely shy and suspicious ; whenever I approached 

 one of their villages, they invariably left their huts and tried to conceal themselves 

 in the dense jungles of the neighbourhood. Though I had the necessary supply of 

 guides with me, yet their services in this respect were indispensable on many occa- 

 sions. 



M. de Schlagintweit passed on to the Turks, a people particularly recommending 

 themselves to his notice, as presenting marked differences from all the tribes he had 

 had occasion to observe. 



This remarkable race inhabits those parts of Central Asia which to the north of 

 Tibet are interposed between the Komakorinn, the Sayan Slian, and considerably to 

 the east of it. In many respects they show points of resemblance to the Mongols, 

 but nevertheless form a separate and distinct tribe, and may be considered as the 

 original stock from which the Turks in Europe have sprung. Even at the present 

 day the true Turkish language holds its ground amongst them ; and though, on com- 

 parison with the kindred idiom used by the European Turks, there are many dialectic 

 deviations to be observed, yet it is evident that the Turks in Central Asia have pre- 

 served the purity of the original tongue, whilst the related race in Europe have 

 modified it with a considerable admixture of Persian and Arabic words. 



Like their European brethren, the Asiatic Turks are fanatic Mussulmans, honest, 

 active, and hospitable, and far more civilized than their neighbours the Tibetans. 

 Their manners are characterized by the strictest observance of punctilious etiquette, 

 some of the ceremonies being so complicated as to raise up an almost impassable 

 barrier for all strangers. 



The native dress is rather handsome and rich, varying according to the seasons. 

 For winter, or when travelling over the mountains, the Turk wears a long fur coat, 

 woollen trowsers, and a round fur cap. The stockings are of felt, and so long that 

 they can be drawn over the trowsers, when they are fastened by an ornamental 

 ribbon above the knee. So far, the dress, which we had to assume ourselves when 

 disguised, is very convenient ; but the shoes are so thin as to offer but a slight 

 protection to the feet. The summer costume consists also of a coat and trowsers, a 

 light cap for the head, and boots reaching up to the knee worn without any stock- 



ing ' - , 



Yarkand, their chief place, as also Kashgar, is one of the most important and 



flourishing places of Central Asia. The population is in general a wealthy one, and 



live in good solid houses. 



The inhabitants of the mountainous parts are mostly shepherds ; the principal 

 occupation of those in the plains is trade, which they carry on with horses and 

 Bactrian camels along routes apparently impracticable for loaded animals. The 

 merchants travel as far south as Ladak and Pesham, and to the north find their way 

 to the shores of the Issikul lake. On the west they penetrate beyond the Russian 

 frontier ; but towards the east commercial intercourse is restricted by the large 

 desert, stretching along the eastern part of the Kuenluen. 



It may here be mentioned, that the caravan route from Yarkand to Ladak lead3 

 for more than fourteen days' march over uninhabited mountain country, at an eleva- 

 tion of from 14,000 to 16,000 feet. Passes above 18,000 feet in height occur; and 

 the whole district is so bare and sterile, possessing so little vegetation, that the 

 traders are obliged to carry with them even the food for their animals. 



By far the greater part of the trade betsveen India and High Asia, including the 

 adjoining parts of Russia, is carried on by the Turks. 



In conclusion we may remark that, besides our special geographical observations, 

 we had occasion to collect various specimens of manufacture, mostly from Turkish 

 and Tibeto-Indian parts; and we consider ourselves fortunate in being able to add 

 more than 207 specimens to the splendid general collection now accumulated, under 

 the energetic direction of Dr. Forbes Watson, within the walls of the India House 

 Museum. 



