strong with well-shaped necks, the head perhaps rather heavy, though not devoid of distinction. The tail is well placed, the loins and small of the back well developed, sinews irreproachable. They might have slightly larger knees and bellies. It was a real pleasure to see such plentiful and harmonious material. I liked the stallions less, though some of them were large and powerful. Finer and larger ones should be chosen, for the average height of the horses is not more than about 56". The proportion of pregnancy is said to be about 72 per cent. The horses are usually not sold until they are 5 or 6 years old and fetch prices varying from 20 to 70 roubles. About 15o horses are sold yearly and some are given away to poor Kalmuks. The pasturage seems to be excellent in the whole of the Tekes valley and the quantity of last year's grass shows that the number of cattle is not in excess of the local resources.
From Khargontu to Tekes the ground is boggy in places. At the point, where the road last branched off from the Gilan-Kura road, there is a very boggy place and further on where the road is intersected by small tributaries of the Tekes, the horses sank in to a considerable depth. The water in the Tekes was rather lower than it was last time. Not far from the river, Numgan was waiting for me; he had dismounted and in his crouching attitude looked like a wild animal ready to pounce on its prey. We encamped near the Gilan sarai, where 6 or 7 Kalmuk soldiers from Shatà were awaiting Nasumbatoff. He had promised to assemble his whole sotnia at Gilan, and the modest number of shabbily dressed Kalmuks who had turned up, showed that it takes some time to collect the sotnia which is scattered in its yurts. Some of the horsemen had the support made of two wooden pegs fastened to their army rifles — Mauser carbines for r cartridge — that is usual here among the hill tribes.
IIIFカラー高解像度
