The record-union., 1899-06-07
s. The Kargosh pamir, containing the
great Karakul lake, which is also Rus

| s. The Kargosh pamir, containing the
great Karakul lake, which lis also Rus
sian.
A TRAVELLERS EXPERIENCE.
| The annexation of Sirikul by Rus
STA would bring that country into con-
| tact with the frontier of kashmir, and
| this is precisely what the Russians are
| attempting to do at the present mo-
ment The greatest activity is to-day
being shown in the pamirs region, where
| the military strength has been in
| creased and greatest efforts are being
made by the military officers on the
| spot to stir up the N1Ohammedan
| Kirghiz of Sirikul and Yarkand and
| thus give the Russian an excuse to
enter Sirikul on the preteXt of quelling
| the rebellion and establishing ord
| er, which would infallibly result in
| the permanent annexation of the dis
trict to the Government of Turkestan.
| The most recent traveller in the pamils
| is Ralph P Cobbold, who has only just
come back from stay of thirteen
months in the roof of the world" Mr..
Cobbold went to the pamirs in quest of
sport, entering the uplands from India,
and traversing practically the whole of
the region. His stay extended owes
| thirteen months and his return was
marked by an incident which caused
| him some inconvenience and much
amusement.
Mr.. Cobbold was supplied with per-
nit from the military governor of
| Marghilan to travel in the Russian
pamirs and while exercising the right
| thus conferred he was arrested by
band of Cossacks, taken to their out
post and forthwith marched to the Chi
! nese frontier, where he was liberated,
with a hint not to enter Russian terri
| tory again. 1t is unnecessary to COM
ment on this incident; and, as Mr.. Cob
bold is engaged in writing a full ac-
count of his experiences, it would be
| unfair to anticipate him here; but,
having enjoyed the privilege of hearing
| him tell his story, 1 can promise the
reading public feast of adventure, as
| we'll as a most valuable book of geo.
| graphical research.
HOUSE OF THE KIRGHIZ.
First, few words about the KirghiZ.
This nOmadic race in the course of time
invented a form of house suited to its
needs. The aul consists of a. framework
| of cane bent to shape, and these, after
being fixed in the ground so as to near
| ly meet at the top, are covered with
| felt made out of yak or camefs hair.
| A hole is left in the middle of the roof,
| through which the smoke from the fire
| below escapes. These auls Cor khibit-
| kas) are very firm and will Withstand
| almost any tempest or duststorm. Each
| one is a camel Load, weighing from 400
| to 500 pounds. The Kirghiz are Mo-
! hammedans and it is noteworthy that
| they spend the winter at greater alti-
| tude than the warmer weather, finding
more shelter in the higher but narrow
| er valleys than on the pamirs them
selves. The Kirghiz women are few in
proportion to the men and the popula-
! ton almost stationary
| Individually the Cossack is of low
intelligence, hardy, capable of standing
] extremes of temperature. discomfort
| and fatigue, and brutal in his habits.
He is. however. obedient and fearless,
and for the uses to which he is put
| well adapted.
The Russian trade carried on through
the pamirs IS considerable and growing.
| 1t is fostered by government bounties,
| which enable the manufacturer to sell
| goods at the same price in Kashgar or
Yorkand as in Moscow. The Russian
wares are effective to the eye and we'll
/ suited to the demand, but of inferior
quality The trade in Moscow cottons
! is very fOurishing, the bales being car
ried from Tashkend to Kashgar over