Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-01-14

that they began to bid for Russian pro-
lection, and to afford that series of raj
son d'ctre for Russian conquest in
Central Asia. 1t was not, however,
until 1881, OH the death Of the bold
Sultan Ablai, who, by skillful coQuetry
with both Russia and China, had man.
aged to retain independence, that Rus
sian sway became fixed.
1t is Il curious fact that the Kirghiz
were converted to Mollammedanism
by the mistaken efforts of the Russian
government. At first but few Of the
sultans had any idea of the doctrines
Of Islam, and there was not n mosque
or mullah in the steppe; but the Rus
slams Gust as they insisted OH using
the Tartar language in their inter-
course with them insisted on treating
them as though they were Mohamme-
dams, built mosques and sent mullahs
, until the whole people became out
Wardly Mussulman. When asked what
religion they have (unaccustomed to
such form Of the question: they will
say that they do not know; but at the
same time they will rcpel with vigor
any insinuation that they are not good
Mussulmans
times are wrestling, swinging, and
especially the national sport, halga.
where one man holds kid thrown
over his saddle and every one else
tries to tear it from him. There is one
race, called the "lovc chase" which
may be considered part of the form
Of marriage among the Kirghiz. In
this the bride, armed with a formula
bic whip, mounts fleet horse and is
pursued by all the young men who
make any pretensions to her hand.
She will be given as prize to the one
who catches her, but she has the
right, besides urging OH her horse to
the utmost, to use her whip to keep off
all except the one already chosen in
on the steppe, religious ceremony of
her heart. AS mullahs are very rare
any kind at marriage is unusual;
but one thing must be strictly per-
Toned. After the women have sung
the virtues of the bride. and the men
have chanted those of the groom, tell
ing of his great exploits, how many
cattle he has stolen and in how many
marauding expeditions he has engaged,
the young man must enter the kibitka,
where the bride is Gated and take her
out, although both entrance and exit
are feebly opposed by all her female
friends. This is probably a remnant
Of the old primitive custom when mar
riage was an act of capture.
The present development of Russian
railway enterprises is one of the most
significant features of the day, and is
prOchement. French loans are now
1,n Gin Of
crudescence of Russian activity in
commercial prospects in the far East
The progress of the Siberian
railway. however, is the point that eX-
cites chief interest, especially as the
marked attention paid to LII Hung
Chang during his recent visit to St.
Petersburg clearly demonstrates that
the route will lie vic the open country
and easy gradients which Manchuria
can boast thus affording increased ia
cilities for the opening up of the short
est possible main route between Eu-
rope and the Pacific, between st. Pc
tersburg and Pekin.
The Siberian railway, at the
time of my recent visit, was open to
general traffic as far as the Obi river,
distance of SS2 miles Cheliabinsk,
the eastern terminus fthe European
railway system, and 1856 miles beyond
the Siberian city of Omsk but with the
favor of Prince Hillkoff the Russian
minister of ways and communications,
was able to continue my rail jour
ney beyond the Obi river, over the par
tially-completed division to Krasno-
yarsk. The formal opening of the last
division which, aS Prince IIillkOff in
forms me, is to take place ut the end
of the year. will at last establish 4
continual rail communication between
st. Petersburg and the greatest of the
Siberian waterways-the Yencsei riv-
er. Of the three large bridges which
are to be constructed along the line up
to this point, the one across the Irish
has already been built and in use for
over a year. while those across the
Obi itself and it's eastern branches are