Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-29
A TRAVELLER IN ASIA.


church in the next few weeks" says the
Nonpareil.
A TRAVELLER IN ASIA.
The following letter from Mr.. John
Rogers, relative Of DR.. B. r. Kier-
ulff, Of Marshalltown, YVES written from
Tashkent, Turkestan, Asia, under date
of Oct. Ill:
The old town Of Tashkent is too ut
terly oriental to seem real.
We had pleasant journey from
Tifis; about 400 miles by rail to Ba-
toum, the seat of the Caspian petro-
leum industry. thence on fairly good
little steamer about 220 miles across the
Caspian sea to Krasnovodski; from
Krasnovodski about thirty-five hours
by train to Merry. We stopped off at
Merry one day, and drove from there to
Baeram Ale (Ancent Merv), founded
BY Alexander the Great. Stopped two
days at Old Merv, the guests of Col.
Koshtalinsky and wife.
The present Tsar has q large estate
here, about 100000 acres, of which
about 10000 are irrigated and under
cultivation. Col. Koshtalinsky has
charge OF the estate. His houses and
grounds are very fine. We spent our
time here in looking over the irriga-
ton works and the ruins of the old city
Madam Koshtalinsky, or rather "Prin-
cess" speaks English fluently. Also
met Mr.. Vicouline, an attache of the
imperial household, who was out from
st. Petersburg looking into the cotton
Interests. He also spoke English.
Merv, before it's destruction abou,
/ haa la t-fpp
city. The ruins cover several square
miles of ground The ancient wall and
a number of the structures are fairly
we'll preserved. The city was built en-
tirely of brick, the most important
tructures-mosques, temples, etc.--be-
i ing ornamental with glazed tiles of
splendid design and color. On our re-
turn trip we will stop there for week
or longer, and will make trip mp the
Murghob river to the site of the old
Sultan's dam. which was destroyed at
the time of Tamerlain's invasion of
4 Merv.
The Tekkes are very interesting
Mongol cast of features and are quite
bright and intelligent looking. The
4 women make the finest rugs and car
i coloring are magnificent. They are
very expensive, however, the better
specimens costing Sc or 81 a yard. A
woman will work four or five years on
moderate sized rug. Madam kosh-
talinsky is having a carpet made t a
4 cost of about $500 1t is estimated il
will take five women. five years to
make 1T.
4,
eight hours by train to Tashkent. This
is the terminus of the northern branch
of Russian Trans-Caspian railways
The Russian occupation of Tashkent
!, dates back little over thirty years
The railway has been constructed re
Gently. The Russian town is quite dis
tinct from and forms great contrast
with the old town. 1t is as though they
were thousands of miles apart. In tht
!, Russian town the streets are broac
and we'll shaded. the buildings are
modern, and YOU hardly ever see al
Oriental on the streets. III is quite {
military town: the white Jackets ane
Z caps are in evidence everywhere. The
old town of Tashkent is about fly,
miles distant from the railway station
The entrance to it is through a larg.
Z latticed archway beyond which tn
streets are narrow and crooked ant
lined with shops, bazars. mosques
etc.
The Sarts are good looking people
all Mohammedans, and very devout
! The children seem particularly brigh
and interesting. Tho women are al
I closely yelled and it was just by chanc
/; caught glimpse of the faces of a few
of them. They have rather pretty faces
but their costumes are ugly. The.
wear long hooded plush grey circula
4 robe reaching below the ankles, sleev
: less, but with arm Sits, which are sci
dom used. The veil is of black hors
: hair absolutely impenetrable from
y without, and reaches to the waist. The
a wear top boots and over shoes. Tn
e boots are of soft leather without soles
: The overshoes, sort of slipper. are al
: way removed before entering hous
j or shop.
d The houses are of mud brick. wit
matched roofs, also covered with muC
e The floors are Of earth, and are covere
h with mats and rugs. No other furni
e ture of any kind. ALI the houses hav
d a little door yard in the rear, wher
are kept the cattle, sheep, horses
t fowls, etc. They are as often in tn
: house as in the door yard.
v We made the acquaintanceof a Sar
S priest at one of the mosques we visited
Y who invited US to his house for tee
: We all squatted about the floor ane
d tea. sweets and fruit We're set before u
r on a large metal tray. They have
s pronliscuous way of all drinking cut {
v one bowl. It's all right after You &c
v used to it. He didn't introduce us to hi
n wives; said it was against their Law
it but they We're watching US from an &C
: Joining room through a clink in tn
e wall. He was poor man and only ha
= three. have taken lot of snap shot
and am keeping pretty complei
as diary.
q / cannot attempt to tell you much
is letter; just give yon a brief idea {
+. the trip. etc.. but will do a lot of tall
rs ing when get home again. We wi
i stop here three or four days longe
lie then go to the Fergana country, an
= on the return trip will stop at San
r. arkand, Bokhara, Anon Daria, Baera
t. Ale and Cock Tepe. VIII probably
ID back II Tdis about November s. them
q