The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-03-29
The Emperor or Central Asia.


According to La Gazette Geogruphi9ue of the
Geographical Society of Paris, the ruinor that the
Car OF Russia will soon assume the additional title
LEGATION asserts that the ceremony OF coronation will
take place with great pomp at samarcand, In Tur-
in Asia, and the capital OF ramerlane' great empire
Whatever objections England may have to Rus
sias rapid advance toward India, tcannot he Denied
Asiatic enterprises, that her advent into the country
beyond the caspian has greatly benefited them.
comfort and security, and trade be safely carried
on over the steppes OF the barbarous rurcomans.
Such daring Journeys az the ride to khiva and the
trip to Merv, which made Burnaby and o'Donovan
famous, are found now by Russian explorers and by
travellers like l.ansdc to involve no dangers ami to
be comparatively easy and agreeable.
The social changes that Russia is working out
among the most untamable hordes OF Asia are quite
remarkable. Its government influences maintained
by many military posts, Its Trans-Caspian railroad
now complete between Krasnovodsk on the Caspian
and Bami, It's steamboats, on the Caspian ant. the
the Of Aral; the schools II has opened at Tasl-
kend. the explorers 1t has sent over the country in
every direction, its vigorous efforts TO create de-
mand for its manufacturers are all helping TO
change the conditions of life on the .plateaus Of
Turkestan. II has put its foot on the infamous Tur
conan slave trade, which has desolated thousands
OF filling the harems OF Turkestan. Russia has
closed the slave markets OF Khiva and Bokhara,
released 10000 slaves in khva alone aIil scot them
back to their homes In Persia. This las greatly in
creased Russia's influence In the Shihs dominions.
Political rivalry has not inspired rny other Euro
ncH1l power 10 emulate UINlIlTp energy WIFI
which Russia has for nearly twenty years pushed
forward her work of geographical research and az
grandizcnent. 1t Ia within bounds 10 say that no
country In recent times has protedsso much as
Russia by geographical exploration and n" country
has been better served by It's explorers The scien-
thc results Of their wandcrngs for years in the
wilds OF Turkeslan and Mongolia, and the courage,
endurance, and patience they have shown, place
Prejevalsky and his comrades In the first rank
among travellers They have surveyed the eastern
shores of the Caspian and Aral Seas, the basin of
the 0Nus, large part of the elevated steppes of
Pamir, much of the country bordering on Afghans-
tan, aud they have made extensive Journeys in
Thbet, Mongolia, and the Cobb desert. a route for
the railroad now completed to Bami has been sur
veyed to Herai, in Afghanisan, only 600 miles from
the present terminus of the British Indian line at
Quota. The Car now claims his dominons all
the vast territory between the Caspian and Afghan
istan.
Though political motives may have been the chief
impelling force in carrying Russians Nag forward,
the commercial rewards of her enterprise bid fair to
amply repay the cost. Hue and CADET told forty
years ago of the quantities Of merchandise brought
by caravans from tho Russian frontier that they
found la the markets Of Mongolia, Thibe, and China.
Russia is now striving to gain access to her growing
oriental markets by means of modern facilities Of
transportation, and to increase her commerce by
entering into closer relations with the people of
Central Asia. Steam already carries her goods into
Persia and considerable distance east Of the
6'ocp ioC Co