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0360 Across Asia : vol.1
Across Asia : vol.1 / Page 360 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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[Photo] A drummer giving the signal for a monoeuvre at Turfan.

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doi: 10.20676/00000221
Citation Format: Chicago | APA | Harvard | IEEE

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C. G. MANNERHEIM

A drummer giving the signal for a manoeuvre at Turfan.

The mountains N of Turfan are said to contain much coal. The local population is engaged in coalmining in no less than 15 places about a day's journey N of the town. There

is said to be coal, too, in the mountains all along the road to Urumchi. There were copper mines, but they have been abandoned. At present copper only occurs in these parts close to Sajapu on the road to Urumchi.

The quantity of cattle in the Turfan and Pichan districts together may be estimated in round figures at about i oo,000 sheep and goats, io,000 horses, i o,000 donkeys and 500

camels. The average price of a sheep is 3, of a horse i8, of a donkey 4 and of a camel 30 lan.

Workmen earn i tch. 5 fyn and free board daily, women 6-7 fyn and free board. During the summer it is usual for workmen to seek employment at Kucheng and Urumchi, where

they are paid 3-4 tchen, women r tchen 5 fyn in addition to their board. The rather effeminate Turfanlik, who is accustomed to heat, prefers to spend the winter in his own district.

For land of the I category 7 shin, of the II category 4. shin and of the III category 3 shin are paid in taxes per mou (a mou is supposed to be 6o sq. arshins). I shin is equal to 4 djin. The taxes are levied in kind, 2/3 gaolyan and 1/3 wheat. For fruit the taxes are paid in cash.

According to one informant, i dadan (12 poods) of grain is paid in taxes for 20 mou and the same quantity is used for sowing. On cattle 3 fyn per lan or 3 per cent is paid in bazaar tax.

The extortions of the mandarins seem to be far more restricted here than in the southern districts and do not exceed 20 per cent of the taxes. The reason is probably the proximity

of Urumchi which makes it easier for the population to lodge complaints against illegal taxation. There was a certain amount of dissatisfaction among the local people owing to the difficulties raised by the mandarin in granting permission for pilgrimages to Mecca. He is said to have refused permission to several hundred Sarts on the plea that a great deal

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