143 Russian Mission from Orenlourg to Bokhara. [Jul* 



fate they entertain a great dread. None therefore but the poorest Kir- 

 ghiz, who have nothing to give in exchange for corn, raise it for themselves 

 in a few spots near the Ilek, the Emba, the Irghiz, and the Or, in the 

 valleys of the Moughodjar and Ourkatch mountains, along the banks of 

 the Khodja-koul, and of the Ak-sakal, near the Camechlu-bach, and the 

 Sir-deria, and above all between the Djan and the Kouwan-deria, in- 

 habited about 15 years since by the Cara-Calpak, or Kara Kalpak (black 

 cobs) Tartars. 



They prefer the spots where the water collects during the rainy sea- 

 son, or from the melting of the snows, and often seek a soil which can 

 be irrigated by means of small canals — the fields near the Sir and the 

 Camechlu-bach are thus situated. In other instances they conduct the 

 water of a riv er into reservoirs, out of which they draw it to water the 

 lands. This laborious mode of cultivation is followed near the Emba 

 and the Irghiz, and does not allow the fields to be of great extent — in- 

 deed they are to be seen only a few toises square. The Kirghiz sow 

 them with millet, which produces a hundred fold, and very rarely, if 

 ever, disappoints the cultivator. . 



Near the Sir, there are canals five and six feet deep, and dug 

 before the Kirghiz, w ho I consider incapable of so arduous a work, had 

 established themselves in the country. Fields of a much greater extent 

 are to be met with there— the Kirghiz cultivate" oats and barley — they 

 sow the first in autumn and the other in the spring. There are also a 

 few melon grounds, and they preserve their crop in small pits under 

 ground. The fodder for the few horses and cattle they possess, consists 

 of the leaves of the young reeds, whose growth is accelerated by burn- 

 ing the plants of the former year, giving a most hideous aspect to the 

 banks of the Sir. 



The embassy arrived on the 1 9th November, on the banks of the Sir- 

 deria, opposite the hill of Cara-tepeh ; during the last 15 verstes, we had 

 crossed a large plain covered with reeds, and constantly overflowed during 

 the spring. 



This plain extends about 80 verstes from the mouth of the Sir. It is 

 10 or 15 verstes in breadth, and in some spots, especially close to the 

 banks of the river, the reeds give place to very fine grass. After passing 

 through this plain, we again saw the sandy plains of the Cara-coum, ex- 

 tending almost as far as the Sir, and running parallel with it for the 

 space of 150 verstes. 



Water is very abundant in the Cara-coum ; it is principally inhabited 

 during the winter. The Kirghiz then retire with their kibitkas into 

 some hollow, where they are sheltered from the wind. Near the Sir-de- 



