The state herald., 1915-05-21


Kirghiz, Stephen Graham found
much Of interest, and in Country
Life he thus tells some Of his ex-
periences:
/ issued forth from Kopal on broad
moorland road. and after several
hours upland tramping came to the
Cossack village Of Arazan-a typical
willow-shaded settlement with irriga.
ton streamlets rushing along the
channels between the roadway and the
cottages. In the pleasant coolness Of
five o'clock sunshine l passed out at
the other end Of the only street of the
village and climbed UP into the hills
beyond. turned neck in the noun
tains. descended by little green gorges
into strange valleys and climbed out
of them to high ridges and cold, wind
swept heights. All about me grew
desolate and rugged. 1t was touching
to look back at the LITTLE collection
Of homes had left-the compact little
island of trees In the ocean OF moor
land below me and behind me-and
to look forward to the pass where all
seemed dreadful and forbidding in
front of me. In such view spread
my bed and slept
Next morning, with great difficulty
I collected roots and withered grass
enough to boil pot and make my
morning tea. While sitting there. the
large raindrops came, and they made
deep black spots in the dust OF the
road, the lightning flashed across my
knife. the thunder rolled powders
about the mountains and ! sped to q
cave to avoid drenching shower.
In a Celebrated District.
was in a somewhat celebrated dis
trict The Pass and Gorge OF Abakum
are among the sights OF Seven Rivers
land and are visited by Russian holi-
day-makers and picnickers. All the
rocks are scrawled with the names OF
bygone visitors. and by that fact alone
you know the place has name and is
accounted beautiful. When the rain
ceased and ventured out Of the cave
again saw Russian at work writing
his name. He had stick dipped In
the pitch with which the axles OF his
cart were oiled. and the wheels of
the cart were nearly OF for him to get
1t. For the first time saw how these
intensely black sorawls were written
on the rocks.
II was pleasant noontide along
the narrow road between crumbling
indigo rocks and heaped debris. The
stony slopes were rain.washed. the
air fresh. and all along the way were
dwarf rose bushes. very thorny but
covered with scores OF bright yellow
blossoms on little red stems. The
jagged highway climbed again high
up-to the sky. and gave me a vision
OF new land. the vast dead plain
Of Northern Semiretchie and OF South
ern Siberia. Northward to the horizon
lay deserts. salt marshes and vast
lakes with unlnhabited shores. with
cred moors and wilted lowlands.
From that height. which was evi.
IDENTIFY the famous pass, l descended
into the pretty gorge OF Abakum. The
road was steep and narrow. the cliffs
on each side sheer. A little foaming
rubbish heaps OF rocks. and accom-.
panies the highways In an nrtificially
devised channel. A strange gateway
has been formed In a thin partition
OF rock. and through this runs the
stream below and tho telegraph wire
overhcad-there Is footway, but
carts aro Obliged TO make dctour.
| sbls \ Ia. H..
nation OF Siberia and n reflection OF
the American spirit. Commercial tray.
elers had scrawled: BUY PRovoD-
MIX GALoS1iEs AT oMSK and
BUY INDIAN TEA AND GET RICH.
On tho Road to sarkand.
II is a green and Joyous road from
Abakum eastward 10 Sarknnd, keep.
Ing 10 the mountain slopes and not
faring forth upon III. acorchod plain
that lies away northward. did not
repent that tho crossroads tempted
mo To no eastward, hugging tho noun.
tains. Long green grass waved ON
each aldo OF the road. and In the
grass blue larkapur and Immense yol.
low hollyhockH. I was In the land
where tho kirghix has hla summer
pasture. and often ! came upon whole
clans that had lust pitched their tcnts.
u wna a mnny.colorcd picture OF
cnmclp. bulls and horscH, OF sheep
nwarmlng among children. OF kittens
playing with ono anotherA tails. OF
tents whose framework only was M
yet put up. OF heaps OF felt carpet
ON tho grass. OF old wooden chests
ana nntcdiluvian pots and JUGS OF sag.
sing leather lying promiacuoualy TO.
rsther while tho new homo was not