Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-11-12
THE KiRGHlZ.
A Dreary Russian Outpost. Shut Out From
World.

A Dreary Russian Outpost, Shut Out From
the World.
A correspondent of a Russian paper,
known as the KaUkaz, describes visit
to military station on the eastern shore
of the Caspian Sea. He writes: Fort
Alexandrovsk, with a population of
some three hundred and fifty of both
sexes. presents the appearance of a sim
gle narrow street, bordered on either
side with neatly-built shops and houses,
lamps and high poles. A house, which
at one time served as the residence of
the commissariat officer. and was after
ward acquired by the Government and
transformed into lazaret, forms by its
loftiness an exception to the general
run. The whole of the trade of the
place is concentrated in the hands of
Armenians from Astrakhan, among
whom are to be found some wealthy in
dividuals who derive considerable profit
from the bartering trade they carry on
with the Kirghiz. On rising ground
overlooking this street are the Govern
ment buildings-namely, the fort, the
residence of the Governor and the
church; while the open space at the
foot of the slope is adorned with a
handsome chapel, built in commemora-
ton of the Khiva campaign
OF vegetation there is absolutely none,
with the exception, on the reverse slope
of the hill, of garden in the last stage
of decay, laid out, according to report,
by the poet Sherchenko during his ban
ishment from Little Russia. The fort
itself rejoices in club and an excellent
fire engine; its streets are we'll lit and
the houses have a clean appearance.
There is also school in which the
young of both sexes receive instruction.
Though the society of the place is linn
tied. yet apparently harmony reigns
among its members. Almost all the
necessaries of life are imported from
summer months. Advantage also is,
the kind that presents itself during win
ter.
The Kirghiz occupy themselves ex-
clusively with cattle breeding, and are,
it is said, noted for their scrupuleus
honesty. A long, clumsily stitched
cloak (kilat) and brooches of coarse
camel's hair form their dress. The
headgear resembles an old woman's
hood, extending in rear of the neck for
about seven inches in the shape of a
truncated cone. According to the rank
and wealth OF the wearer, it is en-
broi.lered with various furs, etc. The
practical object of the cone is to admit
ventilation to the head through the
opening. l came across Kirghiz who
had been educated at the Orenburg
Academy; and he, as others
in proportion as they have mixed with
and become habituated to Russian ideas,
apparently does his utmost to avoid be-
ing taken for what he is. The dress of
the women differ but slightly from that
of the men. For example, in lieu of the
hood woman covers her head with a
variety of rags, bandages, etc. In the
manufacture of warm and soft scarfs,
cloaks. etc.. out of came's and goat 8
hair they show great skill and ingenui-
ty According to the ideas prevalent
among the Kirghiz, the wife is merely
. slave, bought at a certain price, and
destined to bear all domestic labor. For
the Kirghiz. rs for all nomadic tribes,
the dirty and ugly felt kibitkas serve as
residences. The first thing in the XII
bitka that attracts the attention of the
visitor is the store of provisions sus-