The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-03-25
Central Asia.

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Michailovitch Prjevalsky, arrived at
Orenburg on December 81 l19l, and was
there received with indescribable enthu-
siasm. His looks have not changed much
in the last two years. The same enthusi-
asm shines in his face; the same bril-
liancy is seen in his black, expressive
eyes; only his rich black hair shows sill
yer threads In the circle of his brother
officers, he told, with an inimitable
humor, numerous episodes of his travels,
and explained the military arrangements
of our future enemies, the Cinnamon.
| At the request of the Governor of the
Orenburg Province, Mr.. Prievalsky, in
his lecture, gave short account of his
late (the third) expedition to Central
Asia. His party included two learned
officers (Baborovsky and Eklany), five
Cossacks, four soldiers, and one Mongo-
Liam interpreter. They had thirty five
camels and several horses for the officers.
Every one was provided with Berdan
gun. two Smith & Wesson's s six-shooters,
and 100 cartridges; besides, they had in
the baggage 10, 900 cartrides.
The principal task of the execution
was to investigate the table lands OF
Thibet and Mongolia, and the results
surpassed the hopes of the travellers.
But the hardships and dangers encoun-
tered by them battle all description.
They had to make long passages at llS
deg. Fahrenheit in the shade, while the
sandy ground was heated to 40 Fahren-
heit. In the winter the cold was SO in
tense that mercury froze. The travellers
often suffered from lack of water and
food. from storms, and from the assaults
of Asiatic tribes.
They started from the Zaissam Fort,
passed Bulantagha, Chami, Saydan.
H'Lassa, Gamma, and ended their ex-
plorations at the origin of the Hoang-H Ho,
or Yellow river. They journeyed over
1000 versts (about 5000 miles,. They
made surveys constantly, as also astro-
nomical and meteorologi observations.
Three mountains were discovered, which
are to be classed among the highest on
the globe ;. these were named after hum
boldt, Ritter, and Newton. The explor-
ers made excellent geological, botanical,
mineralogical, and astronomical collec-
tions, which will be given to the St.
Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Among the curiosities are some species
of animals heretofore unknown.
Passing over the Thian-Schan chain,
| the explorers found themselves in des-
ert where there were no signs OF life ex
cept a few wild yaks. The region was
quite barren for hundreds of miles; there
were no traces of vegetation; the sand and
sharp pebbles extended to the horizon.
Poor wells, however, were found at in
tervals of from twenty to thirty miles.
In the summer the heat was so intense
that they could travel only at night.
The Governor Of Chami received the
explorers with apparent kindnnss, but
refused most decidedly to give them q
guide to pilot them to the oasis of SUIT
cheu. He said that the way to that oasis
was too dangerous, being covered with
bones and the carcasses of camels and
men. The situation of the trvelers was
critical. To go around the oasis was to
travel 8, 400 versts while this danger
ous road was matter of 300 versts. The
bold explorer decided to go straight
to the oasis. The journey was,
indeed, horrible. The heat Of the ground
reached 154 degrees Fahrenheit. Here
and there were seen the dead bodies of
men and brutes. Stin, these were not
SO numerous as the Cinnamon had
affirmed. The oasis was safely reached
by the travellers, and it seemed to them q
veritable paradise.
According to his instructions from
Peking, the Governor of the place re-
ceived them in an unfriendly manner,
and refused te help them in any way.
The explorers obtained guide by sheer
force. He led them into an impossible
region. They dismissed him, and were
about to return to the oasis, when hap
PLY they met party of the Mongolians,
who, for pay, brought them to good
road. Passing over the Altynash ridge, the
travellers entered beautiful valley, rich
in water and vegetation. They stopped
for the month of July near to spring
which they. named the BIagodatny
(Gracious). Here Mr.. Prjevalsky, with
his two officers, worked hard on their
maps. The glacier explored on the Rit-
ter and Newton mountains were about
$50 verses long.
The latter part Of the journey to Thi-
bet was very dangerous. It was neces-
sary to double the night watch, and
often to resort to gums. While passing
over ridge, branch of Kuen1une,
Sergt. Egoroff left the party to pursue
wounded yak, and lost his way in the
mountains. For five days the company
searched for him, bnt in vain. At last
it was decided that Egorof had perished
and the party resumed their journey with
heavy hearts. On the sixth day, while
ascending mountain, the Cossacks
noticed in the far distance what they
supposed TO be beast. But the Col
onel, with his fie1d-glass, saw that it was
a human being on all fours. They ap-
preached it. What was their Joy when
they discovered in the four-footed ami
NAL their lost comrade! His shoes had
been torn by the sharp pebbles,
and he had covered his feet
with his trousers, but those
improvised shoes had not lasted long.
For two days he did not eat at all. On
the third day he saw some domestic COWS
but he did not like to kill one Of them
He tried only to milk them, but there
was no milk, and so he ate grass. In or
der to warm himself, he made fire at
night by firing at his cap. In this way
he spent seven cartridges, saving, how
ever, all the bullets as being State prop
erty. In two weeks Egorof was himself
again.
In September the explorers crossed
the Blue River Yangtse-kiang) and
entered the City Of Thibet. The snow
covered the ground. For two weeks |
they travelled over the table land of
Thibet. The sharp grass wounded the
feet of the camels and made them almost I
useless. Again they found themselves
in q lifeless desert. They had no guide |
and lost their way Their reconoiteSing /
was unsuccessful At last they noticed /