78 Russian Geographical Operations in 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. Duhanial, 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 Eastern 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 Eastern 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, Aoulieta, a town 



