The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-05-28
CENTRAL ASEA.
History of the NIOverE1 e mt A Agaiaast
the CXar.

LONDON, May 3.-Dispatches from
India report that a rebellion has broken
out among the Khirgish tSibes OIL the
shores of tEseCaspisn Sea, against the
power of Russia. n
New York Herald. |
The important Intelligence conve7ed
in the pithy cable telegram given above
reports matter of tho ahighest importance
to the peoples Of Russia, of Asia, at
large, of Europe generally, and, indeed,
also of America in commercial
point OF view. The Khergish native
movement has been going on for some
time past with more or less intensity
and success. =
Adyiees received from Moscow, dated
in August, 1869, furnish the follow ing
facts
The rebellion of the Rirghiz tribe
in the great steppe between Oren-
burg, the Caspian and the Sea Of Arai,
is matter of great Importance with res
pect to its affects on the Asiatic trade,
and is of much greater dimensions than
it has been ordinarily supposed to be
by IT'D Russion public. It has. however,
not taken the proportions which have
been assigned to it by the German news
papers, and the Don Cossacks are in no
way engaged in it. These Kirghiz
tribes, or more exactly the lesser horde
of the Kirghiz- -Kaisacks, have for many
years roved at will in the broad plains
between the rivers Ural and 1shm-in
the summer being near the Orenburg
line, and in the winter further south, in
the Ust- -Urtp and near the syr-Darya.
They are exclusively a nomadic and
pastoral people. Until the last year
their relations to Russia consisted in
the payment of yearly tribute of one
and a half roubles for each kibitka or
hut, and in an obligation to, furnish, at
sfred price, camels for the army and
other Government trains which crossed
the steppes. Their internal government
was entirel y in the hands Of the Sultans,
OR rich aristocratic portion of the tribes,
the Government appointing thre. of
them as ruling Sultans, under the d.
rection of Governor, stationed at Oren-
burg, who. for the past few years, has
been Gen. Balluseck, formerly embassa-
dor in China. Their laws were their
own. The aristocracy were content
with this arrangement They adopted
some Of the refnements of European
civilization. res@S sn@e
Justice was to be administered by
Judges elected by, the .Kirghizes them
selves, though without the. concurrence
Of the higher aristocracy. on the basis
If local customs The religious legis-
atiye power has never existed in the
,teppe, and the Kirghizes are thus free
rom any religious. influence coming
rom the Central AsiaticKhanates. The
religion is under the direction OF the
Grand Mufti, living at Ufa; but the
Muilahs are chosen By the people, with
he approval of the Government. The
,nly control exercised over the religion |
vas that no mosque could be construct
ID without permission
This project had no faults of any mag
1itude, and it was expected to, have a
,reat success. The contrary result,
lowever, has occurred. The Kirghizes
we're surprised to find that. instead of
,wning their vast territory, they were
sort Of tenants at will they felt the
lindance5 to their free movements, and
lad fear and horror Of the books and
,apers which were connected with the
district and volost governments. The
ribute had been raised to three roubles
,er kibitka-less than what had been
xacted BY the Sultans, bat more than
he government had previously claimed,
rhe Sultans were. Of course. opposed to
he new system. and used all their in
the people to induce them to
evolt Hence the Ireland Of Russia.
T." |