1865.] Notes on Central Asia, 119 



obstacles in its legitimate development from its transitive and contra- 

 band character, as the Chinese of the Western region (Si-yui) were 

 only able to have secret dealings with the Russians under a semblance 

 of trafficing with the Kirghizes. It was this disadvantageous state 

 of things, that led to the mission, with objects partly diplomatic and 

 partly geological, of E. P. Kovalefski accompanied by Vlangagli, an 

 officer of mining Engineers. 



This expedition started from Kuldja, and skirting the Russian side 

 of the Djungarian Alatau, traversed the valley of the Koksu, as far 

 as the upper sources of this river, while, on the Chinese side, it reach- 

 ed the town of Kuldja, on the Hi. The most important results of 

 this mission in commercial, as well as in scientific respects, were the 

 establishment of Russian trading factories at Kuldja and Chuguchak. 

 The opening up of the "Western Chinese region contributed largely to 

 the increase of our knowledge of the geography of Asia, inasmuch as 

 it threw two learned Chinese scholars into the commercial centres 

 of Djungaria in the capacity of consuls. The local researches of these 

 sinologists has opened a wide field to science. Mr. Fakharof, one of 

 the consuls, has already collected materials of great value relating to 

 the physical geography and cartography of Inner Asia ; these mate- 

 rials he has obtained during his stay at Pekin, from rare geographical 

 works (namely the reports of the Survey made during the reign of 

 Tsian-Sun) and from information supplied him by natives of the 

 Western region. The foundation of the town of Kopal, which was 

 in a satisfactory and flourishing condition, owing to the rapid develop- 

 ment of agriculture aided by artificial irrigation, could not, however, 

 secure the great Hordes, now under Russian dominion, against the 

 bold attacks of the Buruts, or the so-called Black or Dikokamenni 

 Kirghizes, who infested the valley of lake Issyk-Kul, and the 

 neighbourhood of Tekes on one of the sources of the Ri. This was 

 naturally to be expected from the position of Kopal which stood on 

 the northern confines of the Hordes, whose southern boundary, beyond 

 the Ri, remained completely unprotected. The unguarded condition 

 of the frontier of the Russian Empire on this quarter induced Governor 

 General Hasford to occupy the so-called Trans-Ri country extending 

 between the river Ri, and the snow-line of the gigantic Trans-Ili 

 Alatau, with a view of securing the left flank of the Kirghiz Steppe 



