DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0161
TRAVELS IN TURKISTAN.
109
westerly direction up tlre open banks of the Sirikol river to the
western descent from the Ivok Moniok pass and tlie junction of
tlie Tagliarma stream, at which point the main river, flowing
from the south, makes a sharp bend to the east. The open
valley of Sirikol begins here, and extends south for a very con-
siderable clistance towards tlie Kunjut mountain range. We
encamped on the 29th in the open valley, at a small military
post about four miles from the fort (Tashkurgan), where we
were met by some of the Kashghari governorh people, sent to
welcome us in his name to Sirikol. We reachecl Tashkurgan
the following day, the 30th, and were well received and hospi-
tably entertained by the governor, Hussun Shah, who came out
some distance to meet us. He was accompanied by a mounted
guard, remarkably well appointed, ancl neatly dressed. Hussun
Shah himself we remarked to be almost the best dressed and
equipped officer we had seen in the Atalik’s service. ITe has
the title of Toksabai (Chief of the Standard). We estimated
Tashkurgan to be 124 miles by roacl from Yangi-Hissar, in a
general south-easterly direction.
The Sirikol valley is 10,250 feet above the sea. It extencls
eight miles north of Tashkurgan, to the bend of the river east,
and appears to stretch far away south. The average breadth is
about three miles. Cultivation is confined chiefly to the western
slopes, and is the work entirely of its Tajik inhabitants, who
occupy a length of about 15 miles of the valley above and below
the fort. The level part, through which the river flows, is used
as a pasture ground, ancl affords rich and abundant grazing.
The houses are built of stone and rnud, and are afl collectecl in
villages and hamlets, none being scattered over the cultivated
land as in Kashghar ancl Yarkancl. Most of the villages we
109
westerly direction up tlre open banks of the Sirikol river to the
western descent from the Ivok Moniok pass and tlie junction of
tlie Tagliarma stream, at which point the main river, flowing
from the south, makes a sharp bend to the east. The open
valley of Sirikol begins here, and extends south for a very con-
siderable clistance towards tlie Kunjut mountain range. We
encamped on the 29th in the open valley, at a small military
post about four miles from the fort (Tashkurgan), where we
were met by some of the Kashghari governorh people, sent to
welcome us in his name to Sirikol. We reachecl Tashkurgan
the following day, the 30th, and were well received and hospi-
tably entertained by the governor, Hussun Shah, who came out
some distance to meet us. He was accompanied by a mounted
guard, remarkably well appointed, ancl neatly dressed. Hussun
Shah himself we remarked to be almost the best dressed and
equipped officer we had seen in the Atalik’s service. ITe has
the title of Toksabai (Chief of the Standard). We estimated
Tashkurgan to be 124 miles by roacl from Yangi-Hissar, in a
general south-easterly direction.
The Sirikol valley is 10,250 feet above the sea. It extencls
eight miles north of Tashkurgan, to the bend of the river east,
and appears to stretch far away south. The average breadth is
about three miles. Cultivation is confined chiefly to the western
slopes, and is the work entirely of its Tajik inhabitants, who
occupy a length of about 15 miles of the valley above and below
the fort. The level part, through which the river flows, is used
as a pasture ground, ancl affords rich and abundant grazing.
The houses are built of stone and rnud, and are afl collectecl in
villages and hamlets, none being scattered over the cultivated
land as in Kashghar ancl Yarkancl. Most of the villages we