July 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



TRADE OF CENTRAL ASIA. 551 



process every ten days until the time it begins to spin the cocoon. 

 When these are finished, the worm inside is destroyed l>y exposing the 

 cocoon to the heat of the sun. That done, the Bukharians proceed to 

 reel off the silk threads. 



The quality of the silk of Bukhara is much inferior to that of China, 

 and even to the French and Lombard silks, as well in colour as in the 

 softness of the thread. 



The trade carried on by the Tatar merchants at Semipalatinsk with 

 the Kirghiz tribes is thus described by Atkinson : — 



" They supply them with silk dresses, tea, raisins, and wooden bowls 

 from China ; khilats of printed calicoes from Khokand ; Bussian hard- 

 ware, iron, copper, leather ; for which they receive in exchange black 

 and grey foxskins, horses, oxen, and sheep. The horses and oxen are 

 driven into Eastern Siberia to the different gold mines. One of these 

 Tatar traders told me that he imported 50,000 horned cattle into Siberia 

 annually ; and these are chiefly consumed at the gold mines. I have 

 met the Kirghiz, with herds of from 3,000 to 4,000 oxen, 1,500 miles 

 from their homes, and 500 from their destination. When the cattle are 

 delivered at the mines, the men remain a few days and then start on 

 their return — a very long ride. Their journey home is by the post as far 

 as Semipalatinsk, and then to their hovels in the steppe on horseback. 

 The sheep are driven acrose the steppe to Betropavalosk, on the fron- 

 tier of Siberia, and thence to Ekaterineburg, where they are killed, and 

 their fat melted down into tallow. More than 1,000,000 sheep are 

 brought from the Kirghiz steppe yearly, which are disposed of in thi3 

 manner. The whole of the tallow was (till within the last five years) 

 forwarded to Europe ; now the bulk is converted into stearine at the 

 large works near Ekaterineburg. This establishment supplies all Siberia 

 with candles, besides sending a great quantity into Bussia." 



Entertained in the steppe by a chief, Mr. Atkinson observed " the 

 ground inside the dweUing covered with Bukhara carpets. Tea, dried 

 apricots, and raisins formed the refreshments, together with boiled 

 mutton, served up on a wooden tray with boiled rice. The chief wore 

 a Chinese silk khilat of varied colours, a fine shawl round his waist, a 

 brown conical cap turned up at the sides, and a pair of green leather 

 boots, with overshoes or slippers." 



The summer costume of both men and women consists of two, 

 sometimes of three, silk or cotton khilats (long dressing gowns). 



Opium-smoking is prevalent. The drug is sold by the Tatar mer- 

 chants for its weight in silver. Before the caravans reach the town of 

 Kulja (Ila) and Khoubachak they are met by Chinese, who purchase 

 their whole stock, paying for it in silver, and these men smuggle the 

 opium into the towns. 



In the province of Khutan, grain, vegetables, and fruit abound. The 

 mulberry flourishes, and furnishes sustenance to the silkworm, which 

 is very generally reared. Horses, yaks, and sheep are numerous, and 



