The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-13
An Asian Mystery.


Tho success of the Russian arms in cen
trail Asia has laid open to the tourist and
the student some OF the most famous seats
Of Moslem civilization. Yet even Sainar-
cand, the holy city, awakcns less lively
interest than the majestic ruins of Mcstor-
jan which were lately explored by party
OF Russian officers. The astonishing grand
eur Of these remains Is not more note
worthy than the strange obscurity which
appears to shroud their origin and history.
The ruins lie some thirty versts south
east OF Lake BugdaYly, and not far from
the junction OF the Ssumbar and Atrck
rivers. The route leads through an ex-
trcmely fertile plain, and in proportion AS
you approach HISTORIAN, the more felici-
tous appears the epithet of kings land,'
bestowed by the Turkomans on this por-
ton Of the steppe. When we consider
that wheat and maize, htfully cultivated
in rainy summers, still yield respectively
fifty and hundred and fifty fold, IL is
easy TO infer what harvcsts must have re-
paid consummate system of irrigation.
Soon after leaving Lake Bugdaily
some vestiges Of small fortress are en-
couutcred and from this point con-
tinuous line of forts seems to have eN-
tended TO HISTORIAN, probably designed
TO protect the immense aqurduct which
ran behind them along n wall seven feet
high and fourteen broad. In effect this
canal constituted an artificial bed for the
river,Atrck. and besides supplying the city
and its suburbs, fed vast net work of
sluices from which every clod OF earth
within circuit of sixty vcrsts must have
received its due share Of moisture. The
traces OF an elaborate scheme Of irrigation
are common to most Saracenic countries,
but nothing IN Andalusia or the Nile val
ley seems to have equalled the perfection
of these works in central Asia.
The city itself formed fortress encir-
cled. first, by n broad moat and pnrapct
of earth. next by two concentric walls
constructed of large, carefully burnt
bricks, and strengthened by towers ut
frequent intervals. Its shape was an
irregular square, whose sides varied from
$500 TO 1000 feet in length. The entire
space, as well as a ring of suburbs to the
distance OF two versts, Is strewn with the
same carefully burnt bricks, the debris Of
former buildings whose foundation walls
may in most instances still be traced.
without the fortress the general destruc-
ton has spared only the city gntes aud
part of the mosque SchirKabir, still ac-
counted holy and credited with many
miracles. Within the walls are still stand
ing two shapely minarets-each ninety feet
high aud some twenty feet I'm diameter ut
the base-a mosque, palace, II colossal
reservoir and numerous cisterns. The
minarets, now mutilated, must have for
mcrly attained much greater height. to
which access seems to have been secured
by spiral staircase contriyed i'll the in
terror. All these buildings, which excite
establishment by their graceful lines the
beauty of their proportions, and the Gle
gance Of their facades, are wrought of q
peculiar brick, close and hard as stone,
| adorned with mosaic work ano sculptures
IN relief, aiabesques and embossed inscrip-
tiOns of unusual size and splendor, each
letter being formed of tinted, flower
shaped tiles, and having n length OF seven
inches. Those who have seen the restora-
tions of the Alhdinbra at Granada may
form an idea of the brilliant effect, al
though not Of the stupendous scale, OF
this HISTORIAN architecture.
When we read of these interesting re-
mains, which seem TO combine artistic
merit with magnitude, we are moved to
ask what remarkable people should be
| credited with such elaborate works, and
under what dynasty the superb HISTORIAN
fiourished Upon this point history is
mute, and the local traditions are vague
and unsatisfactory. According to one
legend, ScInR-KABTR was an Arabian. the
| last of line of Saracenic monaIchs in
whose reign the Mongols sacked the city.
The numerous subscriptions, which unluckily
the Russian officers were unable TO deci-
pher or even photograph, will perhaps
furnish the key to the enigma. Mean
while until competent arch@ologists shall
investigate its ruins, the story Of Mes
torjan must remain my stery.