You scarcely ever see them cry, nor do they ever fight among themselves. There is every indication that the Sarts are fond of children. The children's dress consists of a white or light-coloured blouse-like shirt fastened round the waist by a coloured cord or sash and drawers to match, covered by a cotton khalat in several light colours, or in the case of girls by a small jacket and a skirt of various colours from which the drawers protrude. On their heads they wear a skull-cap of different colours, of the same kind as the adults. They do not wear turbans or shoes. The boys' heads are shaven, the girls wear their hair in many small plaits, a carved ring in one nostril and one or more silver rings, decorated with coloured stones, on their fingers. The skull-caps worn here are hemmed at the bottom with a black band, an inch and a half wide, and are embroidered at the top in varied colours, mostly on a dark ground, but often on a light or even white one. The turban, one end of which hangs loose behind their ear, is fastened to the skull-cap in an instant.
Escorted to the station by the officers of their regiment and a band, the Cossacks left for Andijan on the 28th. — Before leaving Samarkand I witnessed a festival with a »badja» dance (performed by trained boy dancers) in a public garden in the native town. Several arbahs were drawn up inside the wall, the horses being unharnessed and tethered to the vehicles. The spectators sat in an oblong ring, close to a muddy pond, on blankets and carpets. One of the narrow sides of the ring was occupied by 4 repulsive elderly musicians, 3 tambourines and a whining instrument rather like a clarinet. Three boys of II to 14, with long hair, masses of silver ornaments and dressed just like girls, took turns in dancing in the centre. At times two of them appeared simultaneously, but mostly only one at a time. The dance consisted of a few simple steps, much movement of the arms and a constant fluttering about with outstretched arms accompanied by quick, long and
IIIF Color HighRes
