National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

hunted. We saw some specimens of the wild pig in the thickets on the Fyzabad River, beyond
Kol Taylak near Artosh, in the month of February, and found they were coated with a thick
layer of soft crispy wool under the long bristles of their ordinary covering. Besides the
above, in the hills are found the bear=*arik*, and the marmot=*sághúr*.

Amongst birds, those deserving mention either on account of their utility or frequency,
are the following, *viz.*, the swan=*codáy* in Lob, the goose=*cáz*, the Brahmani duck of India,
called *anget*, and wild duck=*úrdak*, in vast numbers and variety on the pools and marshes in
all parts of the country. These, with the crane, heron, peewit, snippets of sorts, and other
water birds, all breed here in the summer, and mostly go across the mountains to India on the
approach of winter. On our passage across the Karákoram range in October we found several
stragglers of these birds frozen to death in the migration; and at Aktágh our lamented comrade,
the late Dr. F. Stoliczka, rescued a benumbed landrail from immolating itself in our camp
fire into which it was struggling its way from the cold shelter of a neighbouring rock, and
preserved it instead to adorn the shelves of the Calcutta Museum. At this place, too, I
picked up a frozen snipe whose eyes stared from their sockets like bright round pearls—by
the congelation of their humours.

The hooded crow=*álacárgha*, the rook=*cardcárgha*, the jackdaw=*sághcha*, the magpie=
*saghizghán*, the starling=*carácúcheack*, the dove=*pakhtak*, the blue pigeon=*coshkil*, the
horned owl=*yapalak*, the swallow=*kalaghack*, the sparrow=*cúcheách*, together with the
blackbird, thrush, lark, robin, wren, and a variety of wagtails and finches are common about
the settlements, as are their enemies the kestral, harrier, and sparrow hawk.

In the mountains are found the raven=*cúzghún*, and the chough, the black eagle=
*cáracosh*, and the golden eagle=*búrghút*. This last is taken from the nest, and trained, for
purposes of hunting, to strike the stag, deer, pig, and wolf, and even the bear. Several
varieties of the hawk species are trapped and trained for sport; their native names are
*carchaghay*=falcon (peregrine), *lachin*, *shuncar*, *turumti*, *tulak*, *italga*, and others.

Other characteristic birds of the country are the pheasant=*cirghawul*, partridge (fran-
colin)=*kiklík*, quail=*bodna*, podoces=*cúm saghazan*, snow pheasant=*ular*, and the florican
bustard or obarah=*tughdarra*; but of this last I saw no specimens. The buzzard is common
about the settlements, but I saw no vulture in all the country.

The domestic animals are the ox, horse, sheep, and goat, the ass, the dog, the cat, and the
rabbit; fowls, ducks, and pigeons are also kept; and the camel, grunting ox or *yák*, and the
hybrid cow are found mostly amongst the Kirghiz and Kalmák, and in the southern settlements
of the country, where only the mule is abundant; whilst the dog and the cat are man's com-
panions everywhere.

Oxen are not very plentiful, and judging from the droves we saw, the breed is of inferior
size and productive quality; probably the consequences of a long winter confinement, and
scanty pasture at all times. The best milch kine are said to yield from six to nine quarts of
milk daily. In the agricultural districts bullocks are used in the plough and as beasts of
burthen. And everywhere they supply the butcher's stall with very fair beef.

The horse is raised in great numbers all over the country, and is of a breed peculiar to
the country, though very much resembling the *yábú* of Afghanistan. Its chief points are
short or medium height, round barrel and deep chest, with full quarters and thick limbs. It
is inured to carry heavy loads at a peculiar jog amble of about five miles an hour, and is said
to be very enduring if not urged beyond its natural pace. This is the common animal in the
possession of nearly every family in the country. It is called *topicháo* or "roadster," in dis-
tinction to the *arghámáo* or "thorough bred," which is either of Andiján or Turkman breed,
and is only used by the wealthy or by the Chiefs. Generally all horses are called *át*, but they have
distinguishing names according to colour; thus the white horse is called *bóz*, the chestnut *túrúk*,
the bay *chilán*, the roan *chokur*, the dun *jard*, the piebald *ála*, the brown *kok*, the grey *cél*, and the
iron grey *cardóoz*. The *túrúk* or "chestnut" is supposed to be the most common and hardy of
all. The horse is here used in the plough and in harness as freely as under the saddle and
pack, and horseflesh is an article of daily consumption amongst all classes. Mules are not