OMSK 85 



centres in their neighbourhood. Over 100,000 tons 

 of the best quality of lake salt are taken from Lake 

 Koriakiv annually. The climate of the Kirghiz 

 steppe border is much milder than that of the 

 neighbouring cultivated zone of Western Siberia, the 

 average temperature beingi quite 5 degrees Fahr. 

 higher, while the temperature during the warmest 

 month is not infrequently as high as 100 degrees 

 Fahr. 



Tigers lurk among the reeds of Lake Balkash ; 

 the lynx dwells in the mountains ; wild boars are 

 met with on the steppes ; and, on the borders of 

 rivers, the famous Ovis ArgaU, a variety of wild 

 sheep, and the real Ovis Ammon are met with. In 

 Mongolia, more especially south of Semipalatinsk, 

 there is the twonhumped or Bactrian camel, a species 

 of deer, the maral (Cerous Elephas), the roebuck, 

 the wolf, the bear, fox, marmot, the jumping hare, 

 and others. The rivers and lakes are abundantly 

 stocked with sturgeon, sterlet, nelma, roach, lote, 

 pike, carp, and several species of fish peculiar ,tQ 

 Siberian waters. 



The Kirghiz are the last representatives of the 

 Turko-Mongolian hordes, who, at one time, used to 

 make inciarsions into more civilised countries, 

 threatening Western Europe with conquest. They 

 constitute 80 per cent, of the total population, speak 

 2l Turkish dialect, and profess the Mohammedan 

 belief, while practising a. form of Shamanism. They 

 are nomadic in their habits, and from the first days 

 in spring till late in the autumn live on the steppes 

 in light, portable tents called " yurtas," wandering 

 with their herds in directions which have been deter- 

 mined by ancient custom. The door of the " yurta " 

 usually opens towards the north-east, in a direction 

 opposite to the point to which the Mohammedan 

 addresses himself when engaging in prayer. This 



