, 1877-08-10
The steppes and Gases of Central Asia.

The steppes are the bottoms of ancient
seas which once rolled over large por.
tion of the continent of Asia, and which,
when swept by storms, rise in tumult-
nous waves, not of water, but of sand,
the particles of which might be likened
to spray, but that they burn like sparks
of fire. The terror inspired by these
storms is such as to deter even the most
adventurous merchants from traversing
the steppes in summer, unless under the
most pressing necessity. The aspect,
when covered with snow, is described as
strangely awful and oppressive, exhib-
iting the expanse of the ocean without
its animation, and the solitude of the
Arctic regions without their sublimity
Woe to the traveller who is overtaken by
snow storm in the steppes; his doom is
inevitable, and the bodies of troops
which have essayed the perilous task of
marching across the steppss in winter
have been oyertaken and overwhelmed
by tempest of snow, Dreary as are the
steppes in winter, their aspect in spring
is not without certain beauty. The
vegetation is rapid, and they are clothed
with short vivid green grass, interspersed
with scarlet poppies, wild tulips, yellow
larkspurs, geraniums, and many kinds OF
cruciferous and leguminous plants. The
oases of central Asia afford a striking
contrast to the surrounding desolation,
and the cities which in past ayes sprang
up in these favored spots abounded in
everything that could crafty the heart of
an Asiatic. Even in their decay they
possess attractions which excite the
enthusiasm of travellers, and Bokhara,
Balkh, Khohan, Samarcand, Khiva and
Tashkend are still celebrated for their
babblng streams, bubbling fountains,
delightful gardens and deep outrageous
groves. The oases are very carefully cul-
tivated. Watermelons are grown over
extensive areas, and afford the most CRATE
full alleviation to the often overpowering
heat; fruits of various kinds are raised
in great perfection, and tobacco of the
finest quality is produced in such abun-
dance as to place this necessary of life
for an Asiatic within the reach of the
poorest individual. The gardens, Mr..
Schuyler says, constitute the beauty of
this land. The long rows of poplar and
elm trees, the vineyards, and the dark
foliage of the pomegranate, transport one
at once to the plains of Lombardy or the
south of France. In the early spring the
cities and their vicinity are one mass of
white and pink with the bloom of al
mond, peach, cherry, apple, apricot and
plum trees, which perfume the air for
miles around. These gardens are the ia
vorite resorts Of the people in summer,
and well they may be, for nowhere are
fruits more abundant, and of some va
rieties nowhere are they better. The
apricots and nectarines it will be impos-
sible to surpass. Peaches, though smaller
in size, are said to possess higher flavor
than the best of England. The large
blue plums of Bokhara are celebrated
over the whole of Asia. There are in
common cultivation ten varieties of mel
ons. In that hot climate they are con-
sidered particularly wholesome, and in
summer form one Of the principal arti-
cles of food. An acre of land properly
prepared will produce, in ordinary years,
from two to three thousand, and In good
years double that quantity.-Ne'o Quar-
terly Magazine.