England, yet a modest, evenly distributed growth, which might be called "Asia's early and late special," and which, when the years shall be old, may grow a little in Southern Europe. A nearly related variety may now be seen in Mexico.
The cleanest-looking people, and the handsomest, whom we saw in Turkestan were the Hindoo merchants. Of these a prosperous colony is found in each of the three big cities—Kashgar, Yarkand, Khotan. In the two latter, we were met by a committee of these gentle-folk, whose official leader or Aksakol, named by Colonel Miles, prepared our quarters, sent us fruit and sweetmeats, aided us in purchasing horses and provisions, and in all ways showed us as much hospitality as is permitted in a world of caste, which builds walls between the most loving friends.
These Hindoo merchants are the bankers of Turkestan. Frightful as is the route which connects Kashmir with Yarkand, it is yet so much shorter than the lines reaching toward the far eastern centres of Chinese wealth, that the shrewd celestial leaves the field largely to his southern rival. Because of the railway to Andijan, only twenty days by camel-caravan from Kashgar, Russian goods and Russian money are coming rapidly into competition with Chinese and Hindoo products. A branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank, recently established at Kashgar, (how the world changes !) gave me Russian gold on a New York letter of credit. This Muscovite movement, however, is slow as yet to cross the sands stretching between Kashgar and Yarkand. One sole Russian was said to be in the latter city,—a
IIIF Color HighRes
