78 Russian Geographical Operations im Asia. [No. 2, 
The Society has just been enriched by highly interesting geo- 
graphical materials, thanks to the cordial co-operation of its honorable 
members M. Milioutine, the Minister of War; M. Duhamal, the 
Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, and Admiral Boutakow. 
We have been furnished with a very interesting manuscript chart 
prepared by the Staff Major. It represents, on a scale of 40 verstes 
(27 miles) to the inch, the southern portion of the Kirghiz Steppe, 
or, approximately speaking, the region between the Hastern shore of 
the sea of Aral, and the Chinese frontier, extending from 76° to 102° 
of longitude, and from 40° to 50° of latitude, and comprising the 
northern half of the district called Touran. On this map we have the 
result of all the geographical operations of the past few years 
represented for the first time. Until now they had remained isolated, 
and almost unknown to the scientific world. They greatly modify 
the general geographical aspect of this region. There are now 
determined a sufficient number of astronomical points to serve as 
a basis for an exact cartographic representation of the region above 
mentioned. We must observe, however, that the fixed astronomical 
points are as yet very irregularly distributed. They are comparatively 
numerous in the western part of the map, along the road from Oren- 
burgh to the Syr-Daria, and along the lower course of that river, also 
along the Chinese frontier in the Hastern part of the map, but, about 
the middle, they are very sparsely scattered. 
We now possess many orographic and hydrographic data, thanks 
to the military expeditions, and reconnoissances of 1864, and to the 
operations carried on for several years in the basin of the Syr-Daria 
by Admiral Boutakow. These data serve to correct the hitherto 
confused notions of the countries situated within and around this 
region. We have also received more accurate information regarding 
the races that people these countries, their mode of life, their migra- 
tions, the remains and traces of their ancient condition, and the 
possibility of their future civilization, We can here only point out the 
most salient geographical features of the mass of materials we have 
received, and of which the Society will avail itself for its future publica- 
tions. The geographical position of all the region above mentioned 
will have to be considerably altered, more especially as to western 
Turkestan, and the Khanat of Khokan. For instance, Aouliéta, a town 
