60 Russian Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. [Jan. 



rounded on the east and north-west by sandy hillocks and clayey plains ; 

 on the north-east the banks are twenty or thirty toises above the water ; 

 on the north-west are the bay and lakes of Koulmaghour. Near them 

 are to be seen the remains of an ancient fortress, a well of fresh water, 

 and the traces of the ancient bed of the sea, extending a considerable 

 distance on this side. On the west of the Aral is the chain of Kara- 

 ghoumbet hills, very steep on the side next the sea, but with a gentle 

 slope on the other side, and giving vent to numerous small streams. 

 The easiest route by which Russian troops could reach Khiva would 

 be along the foot of these hills, at the distance of 5, 10 or 15 verstes from 

 the sea of Aral. The road then passes near the Aksouat, and the Khodja- 

 beg, two lakes about 40 verstes from each other. The latter is about 

 100 verstes from Khiva. It is only after reaching this lake that the water 

 of the sea of Aral becomes fit to drink ; the water here changes colour, 

 becoming whitish by their mingling with the Amou. The southern 

 part of the sea of Aral is full of islands, inhabited by Aralians, a people 

 subsisting entirely on fish, and tolerably expert in the management of 

 their vessels. They make use of sails; the Kirghiz, on the contrary, 

 content themselves with coasting along in row boats as far as Khiva. I 

 was assured they never used sails ; being in that respect different from 

 the Kirghiz at the mouth of the Emba, who have lately begun to make 

 the journey by water. The Aralians are the only people who fish in 

 the sea of Aral ; the Kirghiz confine their fishing to the Sir. The same 

 kinds of fish are probably found in the sea of Aral and in the Caspian. 

 We saw at Bokhara a small kind of sturgeon, found in the former seaj 

 it was 3 or 4 feet long. 1 imagine the western part of the sea of Aral 

 is the deepest, as its banks are mountainous. 



There are no marshes in the steppe. The Sir forms lakes from 

 overflowing its banks at about 50 verstes from its mouth; some of them 

 are dried up by the heat of the sun, and 10 verates from either side of the 

 river are plains covered with reeds. They resembla marshes, in spots 

 where the inequalities of the soil have permitted the water to lodge 

 every where; else the water filters through the road, without ever 

 becoming stagnant. There are, however, places in the steppes where 

 the soil is clayey, impregnated with salt, and where a person sinks in 

 crossing, though no water is perceptible. 



The climate of the Kirghiz country is very healthy ; almost all 

 strangers who reside sometime have a disposition to grow fat ; the air 

 is very pure and light ; in passing through we felt frequently the great- 

 est pleasure from its fresh invigorating quality. Consumption or other 



