CH A P T E R X.
FROM SEMIPOLA T INSK TO SERGIOPOL.
PAGE
“ Semipolatinsk ” : its etymology, situation, and meteorology.—
Call on Governor.— Visits to prison and asylum.— Schools.-^,"
Post Office statistics.— Trade.— Our start delayed.— Departure,
roads, and posting service.— Sunday at Sergiopol.— Distribution
of books from the capital and onwards.— Antiquities
and remarkable skulls. — Mineral deposits. — ,A previous
English traveller.— Lake A la -K u l: its aspect, ornithology,
lizards, and fish.— The Central Asian “ Kulan ” . . . 136
CH A P T E R X I .
THE LAND OF SE V EN STREAMS.
Semirechia : its boundaries, dimensions, and orography.— Thian
Shan mountains : their etymology, exploration, extent, form,
ranges, and geology .-»Height of snow-line, glaciers, and snow
bridges.— Character of. valleys and supposed volcanoes.—
Rivers and lakes of Semirechia.— Lake Issik-Kul : its origin,
dimensions, shores, antiquities, and bed.— Climate 01 Semirechia.—
Forests and Mammals . . . . . . 151
CH A P T E R X II.
THE PROVINCE OF SEMIRECHIA (1Continued).
Ethnology of province.— Kalmuks and Taranchis.— Population of
Semirechia, by races and classes : their habitations, a g riculture,
and cattle.— Cossack and peasant colonists.— Taranchi
refugee settlers, and Russian efforts for their welfare.— The
Orthodox Christian Brotherhood : its constitution and
missionary operations in S a rk an ^ B lts Kalmuk school in
Vierny.— Contemplated Issik-Kul mission.— Religious and
educational affairs of the province . . . . . .162
CH A P T E R X I I I .
FROM SERGIOPOL TO ALTYN-IMMEL.
Departure from Sergiopol.— Miserable station at Djus A g a ch .—
Desiccated lake-bed near A la-K u l.— Arganatinsk.— View of
Lake Balkhash : its dimensions, tributaries, water, shores,
fish, and harbour.— “ E h b i” wind and sandstorm.— Lepsinsk
station,*—Lepsa river.SA cce lerated posting.— Branch road
to Lepsinsk colony : its agriculture.— Sungarian Ala-Tau
mountains. — A rasan sulphur baths. — K o p a l.— Arrival at
Altyn-Immel . . . . . . . . . .174
CH A P T E R X IV .
F R O M ALTYN-IMMEL TO KULDJA.
PAGE
The Altyn-Immel Pass.— The Hi valley and its mountains.— I Stations to Kuldja.— A sick telegraphist, and Tatar.— Nomads
I of the Province.— Borokhudzir fortress and nursery.— Cotton
■ growing.— Ruined towns,'and Solons.— Kuldja minerals, and
f mining.— Chinchakhodzi, and road to Lake Sairam.— Com-
! munications of the Province.— History of Ili v a lle y : its
I colonization, rebellion, and occupation by Russians.— Arrival
I at Kuldja . . • • • • • • 189
CH A P T E R X V .
I THE ETHNOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE IL I
VALLEY.
The Ili Valley, midway between Turanian and Chinese races.—
I The Taran chis: their dress, habitations, and amusements.—
I- The Dung an s: their origin, number, features, and customs.—
I Solons and Sibos.— V is it to a Sibo encampment.— Their house-
■ hold gods, and sick people.— The Kalmuks : their physical
I and mental characteristics.fSi-Administration under Geluns and
• Zangs.— Clerical functions of the Gelun .SDu tie s of the Zang.
m ■ — Kalmuk religion, family life, and marriage. — Foreign
I influence and superstitions . . . , . . . . 206
CH A P T E R X V I .
A SU N D A Y IN KULDJA.
Hospitality at the Russian Consulate.— Visit to Taranchis and
I Sibos. — Crossing the Ili with Cossack escort. I - Roman
K Catholics in Kuldja.— The Russian Church A request from
f Roman Catholics for religious service. — Distribution of
V Scriptures.— Steadfastness of Chinese Christians.— V is it to
i Buddhist temple.— Dungan and Taranchi mosques.— Educa-
I tional affairs at Kuldja.— Population divided according to
I religions and races.— V isits to Chinese Police-master, and
I Commissariat officer.-—Sale of Scriptures . . .221