58 
THROUGH ASIA 
region we passed the two poorest stations of the whole 
journey, namely Alexandrovskaya and Semionnovskaya, 
each consisting of not more than three Kirghiz yurts, one 
for the staresta, one for travellers, and one for the post- 
drivers and their families. The former place contained 
also four-legged inhabitants, a number of big rats, run- 
ning unconcernedly backwards and forwards across the 
felt carpets. The station was surrounded by a reed 
wall, outside which tarantasses and telegas stood in a 
row. 
For several stages the road had run through a barren 
waste, where nothing grew except a few thinly scattered 
saksauls. We now entered a region which bore traces 
of recent inundation, and where the kamish (reeds) grew 
high and thick. 
All the way from Fort Perovsk, which is situated on 
the banks of the Jaxartes, and in every way resembles 
Kazalinsk, except in being cleaner, to the station of 
Chumen-arik vegetation was very abundant. It consisted 
of kamish, saksaul, and prickly shrubs, which grew in 
thickets, forming a veritable jungle, and through which 
the road often wound in a sort of narrow tunnel. This 
was a favourite haunt of tigers, wild boar, and gazelles ; 
and there were geese, wild-duck, and above all immense 
numbers of pheasants, d'hese last were so bold, that 
they sat by the side of the road, and calmly contemplated 
the passer-by ; but the moment we stopped to fire they 
rose with whirring wings. Their delicate white flesh was 
indeed a welcome addition to my bill of fare, the more 
so as my provisions, so far as delicacies were concerned, 
had very nearly come to an end. The Kirghiz shoot the 
pheasants with wretched muzzle-loaders, and sell them 
generally for six or seven kopeks (i^d.) apiece. 
They charged me, however, ten or twelve (jd.) kopeks. 
In Orenburg a pheasant costs as much as a rouble and 
a half (;}S .) ; in St. Petersburg two or three. Officers 
and lovers of sport from Tashkend often visit this sports- 
man’s El Dorado, and always return with a good bag. 
The station-house at Julsk was built only ten yards or 
