The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-21
WOMEN OF TURKESTAN.
VIA VtRESTcNkGlN, THe RUSSIA.
ARTIST AND TRkVel6R, SAYS.


Life Among the Eirguis Triiscs Of Central
Asia Charming Nouas Woman Tor 80
Horscs-A Chief Discusses Marriage
Miserable Law"
Among the collection Of pictures Of the
famous Russian artist and traveller.
Nasili Ncrcstchaein, arc a Large number
of reproductions of his former works and
albums # sketches in Turkestan. which
country sbccoming more connected with
Europe every day. Speaking Of Turkcs-
tan recently. Mr.. Vercstchagin said:
"When YOU pass She Ural mountains,
the frontier between Europe and Asia,
you enter upon the stcppcs. which ia the
spring are beautifully green. covered
with grass and flowers, which in autumn
are made quite barren 10y the sun. Fur
ther on begins the real desert. moving
sands. kept more or less together by the
only thing which grows in such places,
a running bush or tree called saksaul,
which serves for burning (cookiIss and
heating purposes rs well as 10 keep the
sands in their place.
"Iho stoppcs during spring are Gov
cred with the tents Of the Kirguis a very
large collection # tribes occupy ing tho
whole Of Central Asia. The klrguia are
mixture Of the Noneol ana Turks
and nuultcr icw millions. They are a
very good hearted people and are MOharr-
ncdare bat not vrrv fanatic. The to- f.
ton Of tie women f. not so bad a. the
position of the women Of the settled pop
ulation meaning the tribes residing per
mancnly u the cities Of Central Asia.s
HOW Trcy Ely WIVES.
"NattaUc however tIair nos;tion +,
not ia ,,,n,.,,.d o. ,i,.t ~ I,.r,.no..n
women Tho K,'elis woman il al,vo,e
bourlt from her paronts Inv her future
husband. As q rule tho p9vmcnts are
made in cattle. asmonov is scarce among
these people.
a charming and good natufcd girl
can bc purchased for. say one hundred
horses, ten or twenty calnols and q few
hundred sheep. in addition 10 a large
tent, some cloth and some money. if the
man has any. Once the price of the glri
As settled upon and One-half or onc-third
OF the amount Is paid the future husband
can come to the tent OF the girl father,
and Is even allowed 70 remain there with
her IN the absence Of the girls parents,
but only for short time.
when the whole amount is paid the
husband can take ms wife To ms own
tent There IN that country as III
Europe II Is hVt wise % l,t 'ie Iutuic
husband 'aA1 ms "he Wi'h"u, Ee'.iis
rom nm an "ia' no Has P'oiii'sc" w
give lVi h'i
remember charming young woman
VINO was bought 10y her husband ioi i3V
horses' rs ,Ie husband was very on
ana she WIS 'he ','iru VIC, ana inOi a.
over ~ que ooiS MN no Vi'iluiVi', me
was beaten nearly every Gay ana iiIi''iiy
came to me Tor consolation nave i
sketch oi her IN one OF my Albums ana
you Will see That she D. most beautiful
woman. Unfortunately, could not
change her position, and ] fear that j
her husband D. not dead she IS s-ill
beaten every day
A CHEZ DISCUSSES MARRIAGE.
"Ihe kireuia look on their women, as
! learned from actual conversation with
a Kirguis chief, who introduced me 10
his Young and pretty wife. as having no
other object ia life than TO vic each with
other wives in thcir efforts 20 please iho
head of the family.
As the klrguis woman lrefer 10 was
speaking of the fact that the tribe con
tcmplatcd moving 10 fresh pasturagcr
and showed her iOv az the prospects of q
change. | asked her If She did not want
10 go aill further. and would take her
with me. far. far. very far She laughed
and answered:
"'Not yet: bat / see that my husband
has the intention 90 take another wife.
Should he Go So. then, yes; ] viii ask yod
t. take me away. far, far. very far.
Il said 'al RIGHT. ind il is quite cor
rect
"'How corrcctF asked the husband