Semi-weekly herald., 1910-09-26

e
government OF Russia would adopt a
more practical right of way and build
southcastward through Afghanistan, as
described the other day, from Box
hara or Merry, to connect with the In
dia railway system. or northeastward
| TO connect with the Trans-Siberiau
line from Tashkent
| Andiian is az far as anybody can
go to the eastward without equippine
a caravan, and Sven Hedin, the Swed-
fish scientist: Colonel O. II. Crosby
of Washington and other adyentur-
some explorers of Thibet have fitted
out their expeditions here. There are
lorge herds of camels engaged in trans
pcrtation over the mountains TO the
important Chinese cities of Kashgar
and Yarkand, and the stores OF Andi-
| jan are well stocked with supplies.
but II Is a difficult and dangerous
undertaking for European or white
man TO enter those mountains with
out military escort, as both the gen
tlemen named can testify. and it is a
hard road to travel even then.
| In sight of Andijan are several lofty
peaks. Mount Kaufman rising $4,000
feet. being the chief of splendid
battalion. On the Chinese side of the
range, Mount Taeharama, $4,000 feet,
ia surrounded by several lesser peaks.
and beyond IT are the Himalayas and
the ranges of Cashmere.
Andiian is the wealthiest and most
important city east of Tashkent. the
center of large oasis or irrigated
district, which produces marvellous
crops OF cotton. 1t Is virtually rain
less region, but abounds in noun
tain streams flowing from glaciers and
the melting snow upon the peaks, and
necessary to talk about water to see
things grow. This section is develop
ing more rapidly than any other part
OF Turkestan because it is easier and
less expensive to build rrigating sys
tens than in the desert farther away
from the sources of water supply, and
more land is being added to the cul
tiyated area than in any other part OF
central Asia.
The railway reached here in 1899
and for several years thereafter Andi
jan experienced something like an
American or Canadian boom, although
the government, as | have explained in
previous letters, does not permit pro
miscuous emigration and does not en-
courage people to come here to look
for living. They must bring some.
thing with them or have contracts for
employment. The natives, who are call
ed Sarts, like those of Samarkand and
Tashkent, grow more and more like
the Chinese in appearance as you ap.
pI oach the borders of that empire, and
their features-flat noses, high cheek
bones and narrow slanting eyes-leave
Their dialect contains many Chinese
words, showing the influence of that
race, and the chai-khana, or teahouse,
Is found on every corner.
The consumption of tea throughout
Russia is very large. but here we see
for the first time, little shops like
cafes exclusively for tea drinking.
There are thousands of them in the
bazaars. They are merely little holes
in the wall, with rugs spread on the
floors, samovars letting off steam in
the corners, and rows of porcelain pots
with caddies continuing different quail
tiles of the herb, from which the pat
rons help themselves. 1t is surprising
the amount of tea one can purchase for
a penny. Glasses are used instead OF
cups. as in Russia.
The hotels are called numeras,
which means lodging houses. having
licenses from the police for the enter
number by which 1t is known more
generally than by the name There
is no general dining room, but meals
are served in bedrooms at any hour II
u. uti Gu d toHsiutIdDit tlihe III du-
vance. Guests are expected to furnish
their own bedding and towels. The
house provides the bedstead. usually a
simple iron camp affair, and husk
mattress.
Andiian is the headquarters of a
large band of Mohammedan dervishes,
called Ishans. who go about the streets
begging and sit at the street corners
to pray for passers-by, 1t is consider
ed sacrilege for anyone to refuse
them aims. They are regarded as holy
men, and although they are filthy, re-
pulsiye looking creatures, who never
bathe or even wash their hands or
faces. and allow their long hair to
become matted with grease and filth,
they are treated with profound rever-
ence by all classes. The natives fear
their curses as much as the plague
These creatures come from Afghanis
tan and often from India, and tramp
from town to town begging. They
bring their collections to headquarters
at Andijan, and the money is supposed
to be forwarded from here to the mon.
asteries of the SEGA at Herat or Ca
hul