18G6.] 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, ♦. 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 Otrar. 



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 84 jj 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- 

 Kuigaon, 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 of tribute and the 

 general merciless oppression of that people. Yang-Kurgaon, raised 

 by the Khokandians in 1857, and Din-Kurgaon, erected in 1860, wero 

 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 



