The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-05-28

black earth and partially hardened. The
search was not prosecuted at any distance
from the shore on the western and north
ern sides, for fear Of some predatory bands
reported to be out in that quarter, the ex-
petition having crossed the sea in small
craft without any escort. The explorers
arrived at Orenburg on their return in the
beginning of November. and expected 10
undertake the same search on the Ural
River and about the Caspian Sea, where
the Imperial Government also desires to
establish steam navigation.
The journey from Orenburg across the
Steppes is described as exceedingly mo-
notonous and wearsome. The weather is
changeable beyond parallel; at noon the
heat sometimes rises to 1900 while at night
the cold is so piercing as to be almost in
supportable. No shade but his tent pro.
tects tine traveller, and the only fuel is the
dry dung of camels and horses which is
found in abundance. On the 5th of June
while the plain was yet burning under the
beams of the noon-day sun, the expedition
was visited by storm Of rain, hail and
snow which lasted three hours and cover
ed the earth with wintry mantle. OF
course no fire could be made, nor food
cooked till the surface was dry again. OF.
ten for great distances water is entirely
wanting; elsewhere when found. it is apt
to be slimy, brackish and unwholesome.
The garrisons in the forts, as well as trav-
elers who are not well provided with neces-
saries, suffer from scuryy and other dis
eases incident to the privations of the
country.
The trading caravans for Tashkend set
out from Siberia and take less painful
though rather longer route. Tashkend
does not seem yet to be in Russian pos
session, but as the line Of forts is on the
river below it, and comes within some
seventy miles or so, it cannot fail of being
soon annexed; indeed, as a centre of COM
merce it is doubtless chief object of Rus
sian ambition. 1t contains about four
thousand houses, built in Asiatic fashion,
with the close clay walls of their court
yards on the streets, which thus wear a
most dreary appearance. The houses are
in the rear, and generally have gardens
attached to them. There being no pave
ment, in the spring the mud is as deep as
as OH Michigan causeway, and is i'm
passible by vehicles, mounted horses even
sinking TO the knee. The streets are also
very crooked and so narrow that two wag-
ons cannot pass each other. The people
live in manner which is savage rather
than barbarous. Glazed windows, tables
and chairs are unknown luyuries, and for
beds they use coarse carpets spread on
the floor. The government is absolutely
despotic, and its head whose title is the
Bek, can seize the property of his subjects
without giving any other reason than that
it is his pleasure. This peculiarity will
render the Russian rule welcome to the in.
habitants because it will give greater de-
gree of security to property. From Tash-
kend caravans start every week for Cash.
gar, Buchara, Cniva and other places, ta-
king cloths, plush. cottons, and iron arti-
cles of Russian manufacture and distribu-
ling them to the most remote regions. In
fact. the commerce of central Asia is al.
ready in the hands of Russia. Into Chi
nese Tartary her traders have opened new
routes, now traversed by their caravans to
China. Afghanistan already buys Rus.
sian wares instead Of English. Persia, as
is well known, has long been merely
Russian province; and unless England
wakes from her sleep and bestirs herself
more ellectually than ever, il cannot be
ong before the Muscovite, peerless alike
or cunning and persistence, obtains COM
plete possession of the Oxus, has Chiva
and Buchara perfectly under his control
and may establish his frontier posts in the
astnessess of the Ilindoo-Coosh and Par.
opamesan Mountains.
The length of time through which Rus
,ia has pursued the objects she has now
so nearly gained, and is so sure Of gaining
justifes our admiration for her
1t is near fifteen years since
she first put the Shah of Persia up to the
utile attempt to seize Ilerat in northwest
,rn Aighanistan with view to render it
centre of Russian influence. Then an
attempt was made by Russian expedition
lnder Gen. Perowski TO open a passage
md take possession ofthe country between
he Caspian Sea and the Aral, but this
allied. And now finally the end is gained
~ taking the route east of the Aral and
ollowing the path Of the old Mongol and
Tartar Conquerors. On that path went
orth Ghengis- Khan. Tamerlane and Ba-
,ur; under them and their descendants,
he Tartars seeking for universal domin.
on, conquered China, India and the By
:antine Empire, and threatened TO over
vhelm Europe with their hordes. Christ
,ndom alone they were unable TO con-
Iuer.
Russia too, aims at universal dominion.
Ier armies are larger, her courage as des.
,erate and fanatical, her resources greater,
ler faith in her destiny more deeply root
I'd, her wisdom thousand times shrewder
han that of her predecessors in this ca.