The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-07-07

dout to be folded for the night. Passing
these we came upon immense droyes Of
horned cattle, and then focks of sheen
linnumerable. Soon after we came in
sight of the dwellings. These consisted
first OF frame of willow about six feet
high, set up in circular form, covered
with s90iL0ck (felt made OF camel's hair.
From the top of this rose dome, compo.
sed of willow rafters, and covered with
oOltock. These rafters were set into
large wooden ring in the center which
served both for chimney and window.
One COURT as these structures are called,
was considerably larger than the rest, and
had a long spear standing in front of it,
ornamented with tuft of black horse
hair. AS We rode up to this COURT a fine
looking old man came forward, and gave
each In turn his hand to dismount to
decline his assistance would have been
great insult. This was the Sultan of the
doul. He was, as have said fine look
ing man between seventy and e;ghtv /
should think, but hale and vigorous, with
ii full, white beard He was dressed in a
rich Chinese silk kalat Of brilliant colors.
the usual wide leather trousers, and vel
low boots. On his head was a pointed
silk cap, embroidered with gold and
plumed with an owls feather, indicating
the wearer's descent from Zenghis Khan.
"We were conducted into the gouyt and
a huge wooden bowl of kouneiss was
handed around. This beverage. az eyery
body knows, is composed of fermenteI.
inares milk. As it came around to re,
1t dltfused very peculiar odor. Out Of
curiosity tasted it; very small si0
WAS enough; a combination of horrible
tiavors, with burning like that of bad
whisky, was the taste of it. The Cos
sacks, however, drank it with gusto, and
soon gave evidence that it would make
drunk come
Meanwhile sheep had been killed.
skinned, and was boiling whole in huge
iron cauldron; while a preportionately
mighty kittle of tea was prepared. thick
ened with flour and seasoned with butter
and salt, alter the Kirghis fashion. The
Cossacks prepared tea after the European
style fer us, and broiled some mutton as
we had no desire to take pot-luck in the
cauldron, after seeing the entrails put in.
without even taking out the masticated
grass The old Sultan and the adult
males OF his family sat in a circle. and
the boiled mutton was brought before
them IN wooden trays. Each one taking
a piece with his fingers, ate portion and
passed it to the women, who sat behind !:
from these 1t went to the children, and
finally the bones were thrown to the dogs.
after while the fire was extinouish
ed, the opening in the roof closed. and
my friend and / were soon asleep. We
were aroused in the morning by confu
sion worthy the tower of Babel. Going
out, we saw striking scene; on all
sides lay the vast herds, and both men
and women were busy milking. The men
MIXED the mares, and emptied the milk
into immense leather bags, to ferment in
Ito kouzniss. The women MIXED the cam
els, COWS, and ewes, and the milk was
poured into iron cauldrons, to make
| 'hyran. This is made by boiling the
milk for some time, until it becomes
fsolid, and is then cut out in slabs. and
dried in the sun, until it becomes yery
hard. This constitutes one of the staple
PARTICLES of food among the Kirghis.
While We we're standing by the Sui
Ilan, looking on this patriarchal scene
two men came up and reported some
thing which seemed to excite the old
man q good deal. On enquiring, W,
learned that tiger had been providing
about the aout during the night, but
finding it too well guaided, had not
made an attack. 1t is generally supposed
that the tiger is confined to the low
swampy jungles Of the Tropics but this
IS mistake: he roams all over the
eastern part of Asia, and is even some
times to be seen in the home of sable and
reindeer, remaining all winter. The
kirghis country is much infested with
tigers, that prey upon their herds. and
even attack the men. As the kirohis
have scarcely any fire arms, they do MOI
often NEEDLE with them; consequently
the tigers are very bold.
Ny English friend and had both
hunted tigers in India, and resolved TO
try this fellow, if the trail could be fol
lowed. The old Sultan tried to dissuade
US, assuring, us that this tiger was too
cunning and fierce to be disturbed, and
woulo surely kill us. We told him
however, that we had killed tigers
before, and with our good rifles did not
fear them. Seeing us resolute. he order.
ed horses to be saddled, and accom-
panied US. We took several of the best
dogs at the aout, and put them on tic
trail. They followed it for several miles
over the steppe, until it led into dense
thicket, where they stopped, barking
furlously. We cheered the dogs on,
hoping to draw the tiger out. In vain
they entered short distance, and then
retreated, nor could we drive them in
again. The horses, too, were much
frightened, and snortcd and plunged
endeavoring to escape 1t was plain
they scented the tiger, he was in the