The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-13

| For people Of such habits and character, the
yearly fair, which alone offers adequate scope
to tongue, ear. and eve, Is n species OF colossal
| club, sort OF post ONCE and telegraph bureau,
whence radlate all conceivable true and false
reports OF private, local, or political nature.
| In their vehement speech and demonstrative
| gesticulation, which are only the Rrotesque
mask OF pacific and kindly disposition, the
KlrRhiz nomads are tho Ncapoitans Of Asia.
For example, three sturdy fellows, whom our
| Russian officer came upon In tho course OF his
rambie, were shriekIng and Juggling at a sheep
skin. which apparently formed a subject Of con
tenton, with a violence which in Europe must
| speedily have led to blows Two OF them we're
| 10 fact. engaged In an earnest but perfectly
| good-humored debate touching the question Of
price, while the third, an impartial and disinter-
eated person. had assumed a leading part In the
discussion on general princip,es, deeming II we'll
to promote the movement OF trade.
IL appears that the you uger females Of Kir-
ghiz race are by no means vIattractive. In an
angle OF the plaza, 1vanor Jaw two women
perched on dromedary and ouriously scan
ming from their coign Of vantags the throng
which surRed below and around them. Their
legs, hanging down on both sides Of the animal
beat sort Of nervous tattco. while their high
pitched voices were not sp,r.,g OF reproaches
against those who blocked Their way. Both were
dressed alike, IN long striped-rlue chemise,
and wide blue trousers thrust into the tops Of
yellow boots. the head being shrouded in n
white veil, which left only tho brown face wish
Bile, and recalled the head covering of nuns
The driver vi the dromedary was already old
and gray, but behind her sat a we'll made Young
woman holding both arms clasped about her
comrade. Very effective were the bronzed
countenanccs framed In their white kerchiefs,
the one, austere and calm, furrowed In a thou
sand wrinkles, yet enforcing certain respect :
the other. naive bright face, whose black,
dancing, obliquely planted eye was eloquent Of
gayety and wonder.
At the door Of one Of the more spacious shops
our author encountered a Kirghiz gentleman.
This representative Of pomad arstocrAcy be-
strobe a stout, handsome gray horse, and the
flaming hues OF his ptrti-co;ored silk and cotton
cafan stuffed at the waist into very wide
leather breeches stitched In arabesques, set his
fat and puffy face in strong lsiief. The long,
pointed toes Of his boots were Just Visible under
his ample leg gear, and the Pm Of his enormous
fur cap was trimmed with fox skin. The mans
face elistened with grease, his small eyes were
completely buried behind their shaggy brows,and
the stumps OF his shaven whlskers, as well as
the thin growth about his chin, were grizzled,
yet the demeanor Of this unsghtly person, and
the fine horse with Its richly mounted harness,
plainly Indicated to the Russian that he had to
do with common Kirghz. And, I'm fact,
scarcely had the chub-faced. pot-bellied patrican
refined up before the entrance OF the shop, when
ragged servant bolted out of 1t and grasped his
bride with both hands, after which the master
Of the booth himself appeared and greeted his
guest with profound reverence. Presently the
great parsonage condescended to swing himself
out Of the saddle. and wsddle slowly into the
booth, where the place Of honor was stralghtway
assigned to him on a tolerably clean sheepskin.
and tea was served. After all, the new arrival
was only Bcy, which in Turkestan Is a broad
word, implying gentle blood. or certain minor
judicial functions, nevertheless all the other
customers rose, made a low salaam. and stepped
backward toward the walls, well satisfied 10
watch ~ silence the entertainment Of this pre-
posterous grandee.
Perhaps the most Satisfactory ex pies OF the
peculiar klrghiz type were furnished by 0 young
pair, for whom the Wait 10 this fair was plainly
wedding journey. Ivapon met them in a
quarter Of the plaza assigned to the vending and
buying OF old clothes ans other second hand
articles. and for that reSsCn much frequented
bv the Russian soldiers OF the neigh boring gar
rison. On a shaggy, dapptsd, rOad-chested
pony sat short, thick-set youngster, clad In
woollen froek Of n brick.red color watch hung
loosely over shoulders Of unusual breadth, and
left his muscular breast exposed to the waist.
His dirty, ragged breeches OF sheepsliin. into
which. after the fashion Of the country, his
upper garment had been cranmed, gaping open.
discovered the mans th CHS, which. IN proper
ton 20 his stumpy growth,were Of extraordinary
thickness. From his square. beardless face
CLEANED uumistakable good humor. In his
hand the kirenlz held the leading-strine Of a
camel, Oh which was woman.
'"Halloo, Mahmutka!" shouted soldier
"where the devil do you come from7 Here-a
greeting 20 your
"A greeting TO thee! !" returned the Krghiz,
graspine with his broad paw the others hand.
SIS that your mdrs1 (wlfelf" pursued the
other, pointing to the camel.
The bridegroom nodded with grin Of salts
faction. Calm. and apparently inattentive on
the back Of II vicious long-haire camel that had
species Of muzzle oyerits snout, sat tho object
Of the soldiers admiration. Her black eyes.
thick lips and heavy jaws. aud the rich blood
that glowed in her suuburnt cheek, marked her
IS agenuine daughter Of the steppes. Euro
uean might Lave supposed her thirty years old
IA reality she was scarcely twenty. From the
blue, wadded, loosely folded caftan peeped the
bronze.tInted ampy-developed bosom II the
Tartar belle, while her wide trousers, caugh, up
by projecting strap OF the camel's harness. re-
vealcd glimpse Of stout leg. without np-
pcaring to be conscious Of the impre Sc ion which
her charms must needs produce, the nomad
dame remained motioness on her felt saddle
and stared mechanically at her spouse aud his
soldier friends. Meanwhile the latter devoured
her with their eyes.
Thus like a kaleidoscope the panorama Of
kirghiz manners shifts and mets from one
scene to another til nightfall puts an end to the
yearly fair. Gradually the temporary mart is
emptied, the nomads turn the camels' heads to
the encampments, far in the interior Of the
steppe, which for the moment form their homes,
the great merchants hasten to set out on their
next journey, perhaps 10 Cashear or Oman. the
hucksters aud small traders betake themselves
70 the nearest petty town, and night or two
later al furthest the Jackal will howl through
the deserted plaza.
The Glorious Times Of Jamaica.
A new book entitled TO jamaica and
Back, by Sir sIDBALL ID. SCOTT Nondon), Is
worth reading.
There was time when Jamaica stood to Eng
land almost In tho relation Of CUBA to Spain.
Before India had risen into such importance