Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-02-15
AN UNKNOWN LAND.
Facts Abous Ceneral Asia.

The publications OF the Royal Geo.
graphical Society OF London, to May,
1871, have been issued in volume xl.,
and give us very interesting statistics
from Central Asia.
Mr.. q. w. Hayward penetrated
from Cashmere to Sch, the Capital OF
Ladak, and then crossed the pass in
the H,malaya range and found re-
Iglon elevated from thirteen to eigh-
|teen thousand feet above the sea,
iron which rise snowy ranges OF
mountains which continue tn into
Russian territory as tar as latitude
IS deg. His route was over and on
the east side Of this range.
Baron Osten Sacken took his de-
parture from Varnoe, on The borders
OF Russia and the Chinese Empire,
crossed the snowy Than Shan range
west OF Lake Issek-kul, and surveyed
to within twenty miles of the city OF
Kashgar, the moth limit OF Mr.. Hay
wards survey.
MIR. Fedchenko, of the Russian
Scientific Corps, made typograph-
ical survey OF the Zaratshan valley
and river, which run to tho west and
pass Samarcand. They determine
Khotan to be ii lat. 81 deg. min. n,
and long. 70 deg. 80 min. L.
| Yarkan.l to be in lat. 80 deg. Fl min. n,
aud long. n deg. 2S miu' Z.
Kashgar 10 be in lat SO deg. 25 min. N,
and long. IS deg. 10 min. E.
| Samarcand to be in lat. 80 deg. 40 min. n,
and long. u deg. L.
These surveys fix definitely in our
maps an unknown country, hereto
tore known as Little Bokhara, Chi
nese Tartary and Eastern Turkestan,
The waters from which run into the
Oxus, Naryn and Zaraishan rivers to
the west, which enter the Caspian
and Ural seas, and to the kashgar
and Youkand rivers, which flow into
Lake Lob, in Central China.
This range OF mountains, which ex.
tends from India to Russian Siberia,
is OF great height. Hayward, in May,
counted from height near Kashgar
sixty three snow peaks in sight at
one time; and the streams are mann
ly from the melting OF snow in May,
Juue, July and August, running
through country highly cultivated,
under the greatest system OF irriga-
ton Of any part Of the world, with
an Industrious, hardy people, who
live in great comfort. "The products
OF the country are various and abun-
aant. Wheat OF two descriptions is
produced, one sown in September
and one in April; rice, barley, lndi.
an corn, four kinds Of oil.seeds III
abundance, clover, turnips, carrots,
onions. Cotton OF . fair description
is produced in large quantities, and
manufactured into material tor native
wear, or exported into Khokand and
Russia. The fruit crops consist OF
the pear, apple, apricot. almond,
peach, walnut; while the vino is cul
tivated, the yield from which is cx.
cellent. The mulberry is everywhere
seen. The principal exports to India
and Cashmere are felt cloths, silk,
shawl-wool, etc. Khotan produces
excellent carpets, "silk in large quan.
ties, etc. The animals are the horse,
two.humped camel, OK, ass, sheep
and shawl-wool goat"
Mr.. Hayward gives the names OF
forty six towns and villages: "Yark.
and contains 10000 houses--is the
Capital OF Eastern Turkestan, is $3.50
tcet above the level Of the sea-160
mosques, IL caravansaries which are
always crowded with merchants from
every part of Asia; the city is sur.
rounded with a fortified wall from
40 to As feet IN height, and Is entered
by FIVE gates. Kashgar contains 2S,-
0)0 houses. Porgam contains 10000
houses. Karghalik contains 10000
houses; aud the country contains .
population Of several millions"
The people are Mohammedans of
the Tartar Uzbeg race, and governed
by a military adventurer whose title
is Mohammed Yakoob Beg, the
Atahk Ghazec, and Ruler OF Eastern
Turkestan-who now Is torty-tive
years OF age.
The Russians have possession OF
the west OF the mountains. including
Co rNn,>A