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From Fort Perovsky, Mr. Schuyler pursued his journey to the south-east to Tashkent. Making this his starting-point, he visited Hodjent and Rhokand, as well as Samarkand, striking from this place into Bokhara. Turning northward again, he bore directly east to Vierny in the province of Semiretch, taking in his way Lake Issyk Kul. Crossing the River Ili, he visited both New Kuldja and Old Kuldja; then turned directly north, and, passing the eastern extremity of Balkash Lake, he came to Semipalatinsk in the province of the same name. Here he entered what is officially known as Siberia, although, geographically speaking, he had been within the limits of that territory since passing Viemy.
After much difficulty in recrossing the Irtysh, he slowly traveled along the left bank of that river to Omsk. Here Mr. Schuyler found that he was too late for the steamer for Perm, down the Kama, and that, in addition, the roads through Western Siberia were impassable on account of the mud. He was, therefore, obliged to turn again southward through Petropavlovsk and Troitsk to Orenburg. Thence he went directly to Samara, where he was fortunate enough to catch the last steamer down the Volga to Saratof. There he took the railway to St. Petersburg, reaching that capital on November 15, after an absence of about eight months. This brief itinerary, which may easily be traced upon any good map, gives a clear idea of the comprehensiveness of Mr. Schuyler's tour through Turkistan, and shows that he traveled through that country more thoroughly than any of those who had preceded him.
We now proceed to glean from the detailed account of his tour some of the more interesting and instructive passages, descriptive of the strange people with whom he was brought in contact, and whose habits and peculiarities he had rare opportunities for studying, through the extraordinary facilities afforded him by means of the numerous letters of introduction which he carried with him to the officials of the different districts, from his influential friends in St. Petersburg.
First of all, we come upon an account of the Cossacks, which is valuable, since it dispels many of the popular erroneous notions regarding that race. Instead of being uncivilized and savage, -- reputation which has clung to them from old legends, strengthened probably by the reputation they gained during the partisan war of 1812, when they played such an important part as skirmishers and light cavalry for the Russian forces, -- Mr. Schuyler assures us that they are mild, amiable and hospitable. They are, in point of fact, the pioneers of Russian civilization. If anything has to be done, and brave and manly fellows are required to do it, the Cossacks are employed. When a country is to be colonized the Cossacks guard it, and themselves take part in the work of settlement. Though given perhaps to occasional raids, when next to some Kirghiz or uncivilized tribe, they are in the main peaceful and orderly citizens, brave, industrious, and enduring. The women are hard workers and good housekeepers; and during his whole journey in Asia, Mr. Schuyler tells us that he was only too delighted when he came to a post-station kept by a married Cossack, for there he was sure to find everything clean and neat, with eggs and milk at least, and possibly something more substantial to eat.
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Baba Bek and Jura Bek
Vambery - England in the Orient
Foreign retirees in Manchuria
First Japanese Buddhist Temple in America
An early traveler in Egypt
Japanese priest crosses desert to Tibet
Waiting in Ulaan Baatar
Central Asia after the battle at Penjdeh
Underground City near Bokhara
Central Asia
Central Asia
Bokhara
