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0080 Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 / Page 80 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000196
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( 44 )

the river is cold. Loud rumblings and explosions are constantly heard in the interior of the mountain, which is very high, and whose top is always covered with snow. It is called Khan Khura 'Ugh, and forms the boundary between Yuldûz of the Kalmak and Zûnghar of the Kirghiz and Kazzak who are also called Jattah Moghol.

Zûnghar is also called Mogholistan, and extends from this mountain along the north slopes of Alatagh to Tashkand in the west. Khan Khura Ugh is the western boundary of the Yuldûz territory. It has a volcano which emits smoke and vomits up streams of pebbles and hot mud. At the foot of the volcano is the Tolaman river which further on is called Koksii or " Blue Water." Tolaman is four days' journey from Kurla and three from Karâshahr; and Khan Khura Ugh is two days' journey from Bash Ayghiir ; and Tolaman is a day's journey further north. On the top of this mountain are the remains of hundreds of ovens which were used for the funeral feast of the Great Zlinghar Khan, Moghol, who died a thousand years ago, and was deposited in a box on the summit of the mountain. Beyond this mountain, to the north of Yaldûz, is the range of Boghdo Isin Ma, which is quite impassable owing to snow and glaciers. It separates Yuldûz from the Ila country. The above is what I learned from an intelligent native of Kûcha, which was formerly called Kiisan. The population of this division is reckoned at 6,000 houses, including 2,000 allotted to the city and suburbs, or at seven per house, 42,000 souls. The city itself is enclosed within fortified walls, and contains about 800 houses, and is divided into equal parts by a wall running through the length of the city. In the time of the Chinese one of these divisions was occupied by the Khitay garrison, traders, and Kalmak, and the other by the Musalmans; and in the suburbs dwelt a numerous and influential colony of Khoja priests. They took a prominent part in the overthrow of the Chinese rule, and almost all themselves perished in the ensuing conquest of the country by the Amfr.

The people here in physique, character, and mode of life much resemble those of Aksii. Their farmsteads are described as models of neatness and thrift, and their orchards produce the finest apples and pears and pomegranates in the country. They are exported to all the neighbouring cities. The pears are of a peculiar excellence, of light colour, soft granular structure, and very juicy ; for export each fruit is wrapped separately in paper, and packed in wood boxes, covered with felt, two of which make a horse load. The apples too are of a peculiar kind called Mûzalm6 or " Ice Apple ;" their skins are semi-transparent, and the substance the same as if iced. The pomegranates are of large size and have juicy, sweet, red grains.

The rural population numbers 4,000 houses thus distributed. On the north—there is no habitation on this side of the city; the space between it and the mountains is occupied by patches of brushwood and reed grown swamp. On the west—Shamal Bagh 100, Daulat Bagh 150, Kiitlûgh Orda 50, Bihisht Bagh 100, Chinibâgh 150, Kurol 50, Tawadin 50, Fyzabâd 200, and Shahyar 4.00. On this side separating Kûcha from Aksii is a wide waste of clay and sand hills in the hollows of which are reeds and swamps, quite impassable during summer floods. On the south—Yuldûz Bagh 100, Ashk Saydi 50, and Bughûr 250, on the borders of the desert on which are the wild camel, stag, and wild pig. On the east—Ûchar 30, Say Bagh 50, Kara Boca 20, Yangabâd 100, Uztim 50, Mazar Bagh 150, Saksab 20, Ashkala 30, Tora 30, Yaka Tokonay 60, Cholabad 20, Yangi Hissar 150, Chedir 60, Sûlûk Ashma 50, Charchû 100, and Durwtil 80. These are situated on numerous little streams from the mountains ; the principal of them are the rivers Zamcha, Karatal, and Shaktir. All other settlements 1,250. Total 4,000 houses.

The limits of Kûcha are from the Miizart and Narin rivers on the west to Durwûl on the east, and from the water-shed of the Khan Khura Tagh range on the north to the Tarim river on the south.

Kûrla is the next division at the foot of the Alatagh or Khan Khura range. It is a small agricultural and pasture country more than half covered by swamps and reed marshes. Its population is reckoned at 2,000 houses, or at seven per house, 14,000 souls. The capital is an open market town of 700 houses. It is commanded by a fort built by the Amfr at Say Bagh on the road north-east to Karashahr, three miles from the town. The river Kalgha, a

                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
           

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