1866.] Russian Geographical Operations in Asia, 87 
now called Tskilleh, after a saint of that name whose tomb is close 
by. 
There are more Kirghizes grouped about Tunkat than over the 
entire extent of country traversed by Admiral Boutakof; and to all 
appearances these were opulent, being possessed of immense studs 
of horses and camels, and of droves of horned cattle and sheep. 
“Above that place, 7. e. nearer to Tashkend, he fell in with two rich 
migrating Aouls, one encamped by the side of the river. 
Descending the Syr towards the river Arys, an open space becomes 
visible beyond the zone of reeds, at 4 or 5 miles from the river, 
studded with clayey sand mounds that are covered with a scanty 
and low brushwood. Some of these mounds are evidently artificial. 
On a sort of tableland, within 7 miles in a direct line, and almost 
due north from the mouth of the Arys, are seen the remains of what 
‘may have been the citadel of the ancient town of Otvrar. 
From the mouth of the Arys to the little fort of Utch-Kayuk, 
abandoned two or three years ago by the Khokandians, and built on 
a marshy soil, the distance is 842 miles. The character of the river 
here is still the same, the same bends and islands, the same depressed 
banks, mostly flooded, the same vegetation along the shores and on 
the islands. The forts Utch-Kayuk, Din-Kurgaon, Yang-Kurgaon, 
Djulek and Ak-Mechet, (now fort Perovski), Kumysh-Kurgaon, Chin- 
Kurgaon, and Kash-Kurgaon (the three latter below fort Perovski,) 
were the rallying points of the Khokandians, for the subjugation of 
the Kirghizes, and the centres for the collection ef tribute and the 
general merciless oppression of that people. Yang-Kurgaon, raised. 
by the Khokandians in 1857, and Din-Kurgaon, erected in 1860, were 
the last points of Khokandian resistance against the spread of Russian 
influence ; here also the last attempts were made by the Khokandians 
to retain under their yoke the Kirghizes who passed over in masses 
to place themselves under our protection. Yang-Kurgaon fell in 1860 
to the Russian arms; Din-Kurgaon in 1861. Utch-Kayuk is the 
nearest place to the town of Turkestan; it was visible from the 
river, being situated in a hollow of the foreland of the Kara-tau 
mountains. 
The only affluents of the Syr seen by Admiral Boutakof are the 
rivers Arys and Sauran-Su, falling into the Syr on its right bank 
