DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0125
TEAYELS IN TUEKISTAN.
79
powerless. From the great ease witli whicli an eagle clisposes of
a full-grown fox, I could see tliat a wolf would kave no better
ckance. Gazelles are seized in tke sanie way, except tkose witk
korns, in wkick case tke eagle first fastens on to tlie loins of tke
animal, and watcliing kis opportunity transfers kis grasp to tke
throat, ayoiding tke korns. Tke burgoot, kowever, is not very
easy to manage, and requires tlie wkole of one man’s care. Its
dask and courage are great, but if flown unsuccessfully once or
twice, it will often sulk for tke rest of tke day. ’Whcn it kills
it is always allowed to tear at its game for a little time; tke
men told me tkat if prevented doing so wkile its blood was up,
it would very probably attack our korses.
“ I was enabled by sextant observations to fix tke latitude of
Maralbaski at 39° 46' 25" N.
“ Nine miles to nortk-east of tke Maralbaski is a huge
black rock, apparently basaltic, witk a treble peak, rising to a
keigkt of some 2500 feet above tke plain. It is very rugged
and quite inaccessible, and forms a conspicuous landmark. It is
called ‘ Pir Skereli Kuddum Moortaza Ali Tagk,’ ‘ tke Propket
Ali’s footstep.’ At its foot on tke nortk side is a Mazar of
great sanctity. Tke Aksu road runs witkin a mile of it, and
travellers on catcliing sigkt of tke skrine dismount and say a
prayer.
“From Ckarwagk I was asked to come on to Tumckuk,
some miles fartker on tke Aksu road. As notking kad been
said about it before leaving Kaskgkar, I decided not to do so, and
liad reason to repent niy decision. On returning to Kaskgliar I
was told tkat at Tumckuk are tke ruins of a very ancient stone
city. It kappened tkat, on one occasion wkile skooting,.I caine
upon a hewn stone looking like part of an kexagonal pillar, but
79
powerless. From the great ease witli whicli an eagle clisposes of
a full-grown fox, I could see tliat a wolf would kave no better
ckance. Gazelles are seized in tke sanie way, except tkose witk
korns, in wkick case tke eagle first fastens on to tlie loins of tke
animal, and watcliing kis opportunity transfers kis grasp to tke
throat, ayoiding tke korns. Tke burgoot, kowever, is not very
easy to manage, and requires tlie wkole of one man’s care. Its
dask and courage are great, but if flown unsuccessfully once or
twice, it will often sulk for tke rest of tke day. ’Whcn it kills
it is always allowed to tear at its game for a little time; tke
men told me tkat if prevented doing so wkile its blood was up,
it would very probably attack our korses.
“ I was enabled by sextant observations to fix tke latitude of
Maralbaski at 39° 46' 25" N.
“ Nine miles to nortk-east of tke Maralbaski is a huge
black rock, apparently basaltic, witk a treble peak, rising to a
keigkt of some 2500 feet above tke plain. It is very rugged
and quite inaccessible, and forms a conspicuous landmark. It is
called ‘ Pir Skereli Kuddum Moortaza Ali Tagk,’ ‘ tke Propket
Ali’s footstep.’ At its foot on tke nortk side is a Mazar of
great sanctity. Tke Aksu road runs witkin a mile of it, and
travellers on catcliing sigkt of tke skrine dismount and say a
prayer.
“From Ckarwagk I was asked to come on to Tumckuk,
some miles fartker on tke Aksu road. As notking kad been
said about it before leaving Kaskgkar, I decided not to do so, and
liad reason to repent niy decision. On returning to Kaskgliar I
was told tkat at Tumckuk are tke ruins of a very ancient stone
city. It kappened tkat, on one occasion wkile skooting,.I caine
upon a hewn stone looking like part of an kexagonal pillar, but