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0165 The Pulse of Asia : vol.1
The Pulse of Asia : vol.1 / Page 165 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000233
Citation Format: Chicago | APA | Harvard | IEEE

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In the evening, our Khirghiz village was in perfect order.
Ten or fifteen kibitkas were scattered on a fair green slope
between the steep gray cliffs. On one side, hundreds of
stupid sheep were trying to push their way into the cen-
tre of the flock; on the other, herds of neighing, kicking
horses, fat mares, and frisky colts were interspersed with
stolid cattle and with camels — awkward two-humped
beasts, strangely out of place among the lofty mountains,
and ridiculous in felt coats put on to keep them warm
and, especially, dry. In the morning, the village was in
dire confusion. Kibitkas were lying in pieces on the ground
with household goods strewn around them. A migration
was to take place, and men, women, and children were
busily making preparations. The slow-moving, pattering
flocks of sheep had already been sent away at dawn, but
the rest of the animals disported themselves among the ruins
of the tents, waiting to be packed or ridden.
The men of the community were clad in big top-boots,
black conical hats of heavy felt with brims of Astrakhan,
and long quilted cotton gowns, which had been wet so often
as to appear dark and oily. Their chief business seemed to
be to load the animals, or to catch those which were still
loose. When a horse was to be caught, a man seized a pole
like a fishing-rod with a loop of rope at the end, and jumped
bare-back on another horse which was already bridled.
Violent kicking and lusty shouting started both horses into
a fine gallop, and it was sometimes half an hour before the
loop was thrown over the animal's head.
The women wore heavy boots and quilted gowns much
like those of the men. Many, however, had taken off the