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Bussian Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. [JaK. 



shewn on a stone still perfectly reel. It is, however, particularly fre- 

 quented by peojile suffering rheumatic or other pain; who are said to 

 be cured by extending themselves on a flat stone npar the building, 

 M. Nasarov states having ^e^n the ruins of two ancient buildings, 

 under one of which there is a cavern. This is not confirmed by other 

 travellers, who likewise deny the existence of columns. This super- 

 stition draws a great number of people to Och. 



From Och to Kachghar no towns or cultivated fields are met wifhj 

 the country is niountsinous ; the black or savage Khirgiz wander about 

 l\ith their flocks in the valleys of the Ala t;igh. These people have 

 more the ])hj siognomy of Kalmouks than ihe other Kirghiz, they are 

 brave, and their horses said to be as swift as those of ihe Tcherkes 

 (Circassians). 



The Chinese merchants unite in small caravan«r, and trade with the 

 Kirghiz of the Ala-tagh ; they come from Kachghar and Kouldja, and 

 have nothing to fear from this small nation. The Kirghiz pass the 

 winter in ihe v;illpys of the.se mountains, cultivating a little bailey and 

 millet. The district of ledi-sou (Yedi), seven rivers, is their favourite 

 resort. 



In the ispring of 1818 they pillaged some villages about Tackhend j 

 this incursion was quickly chastised by 5000 of the people of Kiiokhan, 

 who made a fortunate irruption into the mountains. I owe the descrip. 

 tion of these people to a Tartar, who was made captive by them, and 

 was kept a prisoner for seven years. He informs nie there are seven 

 of the summits of these mountains covered with perpeuial snow, and 

 some firnnd cedar trees in the valleys. This Tartar was once exc hanged 

 for thirteen homes another time he formed part of a marriage settle- 

 ment. He at last escaped with some Chinese merchants, and remained 

 some time at Kachghar; from thence he made liis way to Bokhara, and 

 was carried by us into Russia. 



From Kachghar to Och, this Tartar forded several rivers, and tra- 

 velled through a veiy mountainous country, wliich was covered with 

 snow, though none was in the valleys. There were many very large 

 trees, but he remarked neither oak nor firs. The descent of the moun- 

 tains was much longer than the side by which he had ascended, and the 

 cold very severe. 



Another traveller informs me there exists almost eternal winter on 

 the Terek. There are three routes to choose in passing these moun- 



* I think this must be a m retake ; for nine Russian soldiers taken by the Persians 

 were exchanged by the Prince of Casbin for a Turkoman horse, which is always cousi- 

 dered the most valuable animal of the two,— JVaw* to/or. 



