Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-27

and France, and all the big fur houses
of London, Geneva. Moscow and other
European cities have resident agents here.
The trade has grown in Importance very
rapidly during the last few years.
Charjui has a native governor and
system of local self-government which is
entirely in the hands of the natives, as
have described in previous letters, and
the Russian authorities keep "a sharp
lookout for any lapses in loyalty and
sand bars in the political sea. There
seems to be perfect peace, however, and
good understanding between the con-
querors and the conquered. Russia has
certainly set a good example for Eng
land to follow in her treatment of the
natives of India. particularly in giving
them as little government as possible
and limiting the exercise of Russian au-
thority to minimum
Aral Curious Sea.
The Aral sea is a curious body of wa
ter. about go miles long and 1GO wide
and very shallow, while the surrounding
country is a fiat, desola,e and lifeless
desert. The deepest spot is 245 feet, but
along the eastern and southern shores
the water is so shallow as to prohibit the
use VI poolS, anu SOiHCllilCS w cI Tic
wind is strong it will blow the sea away
and leave the bottom uncovered as far as
the eye can reach. There are no harbors,
and because of the difficulty of reaching
the shore the is practically useless
for navigation. In two or three places
at the northern and narrower end docks
have been built mile or more from the
bank to points where the water is deep
enough to load and unload a vessel, but
three-fourths of the entire shore line is
f~v,
water will not be more than a few inches
or perhaps a foot or two deep several
miles from the beach.
The level of the Aral sea is III feet
above that Of the Caspian and thirty
three feet above that of the Mediterra-
mean and the Atlantic ocean. There is
no outlet, but the inflow of fresh water
from the two great rivers. the Anu
Daria and the Sir Daria. is Tapped up by
the sun as fast as it comes The evapo-
In deep water. and probably no other
body Of water of equal area has less
depth
Water Is Only Brackish.
There is very little salt in the analysis
of the water of the Aral sea, but it con-
tains a great deal of soda, maRnesia,
potassium and sulphate of lime. To the
taste the water is only brackish and
horses and cattle will drink it,
AS have stated in previous letter the
Aral sea was formerly a part of the
Caspian, and it is now only q little be-
low the level of the desert that surrounds
it. It's waters formerly found their way
into the Arctic ocean and a slight amount
of excavation would reopen the old chan
mel.
There is one town on the AraI sea and
that is station on the railway which
cio ar,I A.
Siberian roads. running north and south
through the desert of Kizil-Kum The
track skirts the eastern shores for forty
or fifty miles and a station named Kasa-
linsk handles whatever freight comes off
that body of water.
In the neighborhood of Charjui and
within sight from the railway track be-
tween that city and Merv are many
ru1ns-vaSt areas of roofleSs mud walls
which represent more or less the ravages
of war, but are not altogether due to that
cause. Some of the towns were volun-
tarily abandoned by their former resi-
dents because of the lack of water. Sew
eral have been shaken down by earth
quakes. and in some cases the inhabitants
have removed en- maSSe to more con-
venient points along the railway It
does not cost much to build a mud house.
There is plenty of material within reach
of the poorest conner, and a new town can
be erected about easily as an old one
can be repaired.
Hence the Turkomans who love excite
ment and have strong social inclinations,
have seldom been unwilling to pick up
their lares and penates and build new
lot of mud cabins beside the railway
track, just to be near the center Of things
and enjoy the excitement of seeing the
trains &C by.
Race Migratory One.
They are migratory race by nature.
liye in kibitkas. the round tents peculiar
to Turkestan, but similar to the tepees
of the North American Indians.
The walls and roofs of the kibitkas
are made of braided willows and are
covered with felt. A curtain of felt WOW
Ell upon their own looms serves for a
door The interior is carpeted and some
times hung with rugs, according to the
wealth of the occupant. Sometimes we
find very valuable rugs upon the floors
of kibitkas. The walls are also hung
with saddle bags, riding cloaks. embroid
cries and other ornaments, and the floor
is covered with cushions, pillows and
blankets. There may be chests filled
with silks embroideries and ornaments
for the women of the family, who wear
coins sewed upon their caps, upon the
breasts of their blouses, their girdles and
ether outer garments. and have addition
al evidences of wealth in the form of
bracelets necklaces and ankletS of heavy
silver rudely worked. The favorite wife
of a Turkoman chieftain will carry a
load of several pounds of silver Orna-
ments, and without complaining wear a
necklace as heavy as the collar of mas
tiff.
Although a portion of the native popu-
lation are settled in fixed villages and cul-
tivate the ground, the majority still
live like the Bedouins of Arabia, and
from the car windows we could see them
on horseback and on camels, and they are
always standing around the stations
waiting for the train to come. The men
have a dignified and stately bearing and
serious thoughtful faces. which do not
conform to the gay colors they wear
upon their backs.
They are crazy to travel. They are
never weary of the motion of the cars,
and the third-class carriages of our train
are always crowded with them. The
frst-class passengers are nearly all army
officers and most of the second class also,
but they seem to be of lesser rank.
New Post for E. G. Finney.
Edward c. Finney of Kansas, who for
he hos od