File:A visit to the Russians in central Asia (1899) (14598043690).jpg

Identifier: visittorussiansi00phib (find matches)
Title: A visit to the Russians in central Asia
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Phibbs, Isabelle Mary
Subjects: Russians -- Asia, Central Asia, Central -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., ltd.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Visit to the Russians living in tents when not pursuing their con-quests. The sign of a change was when theycame to dwell in a house, Chagatai wouldhave forfeited the allegiance of his subjectshad he done so, and therefore he never settledin the towns of Buchara or Samarkand. Thecountry between these towns is the most fertileportion of Central Asia ; it is watered by theZarafshan (t/ie oold dispenser), so called fromthe wonderful richness of the soil in the countrythrough which it passes. It has been used forthe purposes of irrigation from the earliestages. Many of these details I have takenfrom the Tarikh-I-Rashidi. The town of Samarkand is about six milesfrom the railway station. The roads areplanted on both sides with parallel rows ofpoplars, in some places as many as eight orten rows ; this gives you the impression ofentering an immense park. The effect is,however, spoilt by the terrible dust and theextraordinary width of the roads. There aresome good modern shops in this Russian
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in Central Asia 199 quarter. The best silks and china come fromTashkend. The silk fabrics are similar tothose of China or Japan, but still finer, with apeculiar brightness or sheen upon them. Asat Buchara, there is much delicate silver workin the style of the Trichinopoli filigree. Thebuildings are all of one storey on account of thefrequent occurrence of earthquakes. The parks are very extensive, and well laidout. Near the principal Russian church a veryinteresting museum is being arranged, and willno doubt eventually be of great use to studentsin Central Asia. There was here a heap ofstones and clay roughly broken, brought froman ancient city, now completely destroyed, andon some pieces I saw rudely carved the Cross,which indicates that the buildino- must haveexisted in Christian times. Amono- snakes andother unpleasant creatures preserved in bottles,was a small monster, something like a scorpion,which has hitherto been known to exist only inone part of America. The finest specimens

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