Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-20
The Adventures and Discoveries of Colonel
PreirynIsky In Central Asia,

The Adventures nud DtsCo'tTtfs oI tofOnff
PreJevalsky In Central Asia.
Russia, writes. q st. Petersburg corre-
| spondent OF the New York Sun, il after
asia all the time, the assurances OF Russian
| diplomats To the contrary notwithstanding.
| II Is enough to say that during the last
quarter of q century the Car has con-
Grered and annexed TO his empire In Mid
die Asia a territory OF about 100000
square miles. having over 100000 inhab-
itants. European Russia constitutes to-day
but a Quarter OF the Cars possessions,
although his European subjects six times
outnumber his Asiatic subjects. II
seems as IL the Cars were prepar-
ING an immense territory for
future Russian empire OF unexampled
magnitude. BE the cause what Ii
nav. il is n fact that Russian diplomlts,
generals. merchants, and servants are all
looking eastward. Curiously enough. the
Russian generals OF to-day who have made
themselves famous by their c0nquests be-
yond the Caspian sea have carried out the
plan OF Peter the Great. Russian mer-
chants who are now penetrating the very
heart Of Asia are only continuing the busi-
ness Of their foreiathers. Russian mission-
aries who both precede and follow the Rus
sian conquerors in Asia are only fulfilling
the hehest OF the Russian monks OF olden
times TO erect the cross in Asia. Even
Russia's learned travellers to-day are only
retracing the steps OF their countrymen
who explored Asia centuries ago.
OF the Russian travellers in Asia Colonel
Preievalsky certainly stinds foremost.
Now he is again in Thibet, on his fourth
Asiatc expedition. According TO his
latest letter, Prejevalsky. with his party OF
fourteen men. is exploring the sources OF
the Yellow river. In August the Colonel
intended to try once more to penetrate
Lhassa, which no European is allowed to
enter. This time, as in his former expedl-
tions, the Colonel keeps his party con-
SANITY on a war footing. They never part
with their Berdan rifles and muskets. and
they keep sentinels posted day and night.
So far they have met ne obstacle, but II is
not likely that they will continue to be let
alone by the barbarous tribes inhabiting
Central Asia.
In his capital work, Z" A Third Journey
in Central ASIA" which has been lately
pnblisbed here. Prejeval.ky gives full ac-
count Of the tribes and places he visited in
his third expedition. His idea was 10
penetrate the very heart Of Thibet. What
be could not accomplish in that expedition
he intends to do now. In his third expc-
dition Preievalsky's party consisted OF
thirteen men. "Our happy journey" he
says. "ought to convince superstitious
people Of the injustice they do to the
number thirteen. otherwise called the
DEVILS Dozen" For nearly two years the
party travelled through some OF the most
desolate places upon the globe, yet all the
men safely returned home.
Tire aaesert Of Cobb, or Shame, is described
by Preievalsky as a vast region destitute
OF any sign OF life. There is no vegetation
OF any kind. no animals Whatever, not even
insects. II is an ocean OF sand, covered
with gravel and pebbles, and occasionally
rising in hills and plateaus. The Russian
travellers often noticed the dry bones Of
camels, mules, and horses, and occasionally
Of men. over the heated ground hangs
motionless and dusty atmosphere. Occa-
sionally, however, here and there hot whirl-
winds dash across the desert, raising big
columns Of salty dust. Mirsges are COM
mon. In the middle of the day the ground
was heated up to lao degrees Fahrenheit.
The Russians not only failed to get any
assistance from the natives and the Chinese
authorities, but were continuously deceived
and misled by them. The local petty
princes caused much annoyance and
soon found a way to bring the princes TO
terms. lie usually refused to talk with
them at all, but pointing on one side TO his
BerdaBs and on the other TO Russian gold,
offered them their choice. The Asiatics
promptly showed their preference for
the gold. The princes, with their own
hands, picked out the sheep for the
party, irving always to catch the worst
animals in the flock. They also measured
out the barley, which they kept in
pits. Every tinc 49,. zee wooden measure
appearN".. from the PIT full OF grain, the
Irinse shouted "One!" and al his suit.
solemnly repeated "One!" "My Cos.
sacks" says Prejevslsky, "laughed at this
procedure until the tears stood in their
eyes. 1t is almost incredible" he adds,
"that the whole Of Central Asia swarms
with this sort OF princes and khsns. How.
| ever petty these pOtentates were. they de-
lay ed the party for days at a time over the
| sale OF provisions and camels or the hiring
Of guide. The Russians found that OF all
the presents they could give the natives
electric batteries and colored pictures OF
actresses possess the most charm for them"
In Northern Thbet the storms and hurri-
canes are terrible. The author explains
| them by the very rapid heating and cooling
| Of the ground and air which takes place
| there. Once he took the temperature atthe
| same time on the sunny side OF his tent and
| on the shady side. The former was 81
degrees and the latter Is degrees. The
| summer Is very rainy, and the rest OF the
| year is very dry, so much so that the grass
turns into dust and animals, instead OF
| picking their food, have TO lick it up.
| Nevertheless, large ANIMALS abound there.
"In no other place on our globe" says Pre-
| jevalsky, "with the exception, perhaps. o;
| the interior OF Australia and Africa, can
| one fnd SO many animals as in Northern
Thibet. Sometimes for days We saw herds
Of yaks and flocks Of antelopes, containing
hundreds Of individuals, grazing without
the least fear OF man. their most cruel
enemy"
In the Thibetan mountains the Russians
had to defend themselves from robbers.
These appeared in parties numbering from
twenty to seventy, armed with swords,
guns, and sings. The Russians, however,
never gave the robbers chSnce TO attack
them, for with their Berdan rifles they kept
| them at a distance OF one thousand feet,
whence the arms OF the robbers were use
less. The natives OF Thibet somewhat re-
semble gypsies. They never cut or comb
their hair. The women are shade lighter
than the men, but are rather ugly in fea-
ture. They arrange their HAIR in small
braids, ornamenteG with corals. little bells,
and copper coins. Both men and women
wear sheepskin caftsns and leggings. All
the men carry swords. They live in tents
covered with haircoth OF their own
make. Mutton, and sometimes yak
meat, is their principal food. They eat
their meat uneooked. each person.
says Prejevalsky, "sittiug at the hearth is
served with piece OF meat. The head OF
the family throws the pieces right and left,
as II to dogs. Each member OF the family
then unsbeaths his knife, cuts his portion
into small pieces. and deyours it." The
Thibetans raise cattle, yaks, sheep, goats
and horses. Their horses, though small
are remarkable for strength and endurance
Instead OF corn, they are fed upon dried
cheese, and even meat. 81 never met an
honest and upright Thibetan." says Preje.
valsky. They practice .polyandry, oat
woman having two, three, and even four
husbands. Weli-to-do men. however, have
one or two wives.
Some fthe customs OF the Thibetans are
very curious. At parting junior person
takes of his cap, bows, and puts his tongue
out. They pull their checks In order Il
show surprise. Turning up their big finger
means approval, and turning up the Iittls
finger means the contrary. The rest OF tn.
fingers signify an Indifferent quality o.
thing or person. All the men and womer
smoke. The nomadic 1hibetans do no
bury their dead, but throw them to will