DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0165
TEAYELS IN TUEKISTAN.
113
jecting towers, ancl bnilt of rongh unhewn stone. It cloes not
appear to have been of great antiquity, or very remarkable in
any way. The lay Jesuit, Benedict Goes, who passecl through
Sirikol in 1602-3 on his way from Wakhan to Yarkand, was
the first and only European traveller before us who hacl visited
this place. Several aceounts from other sources of information
had described the fort as a building of hewn stone, ancl of very
ancient date, going back even to the time of the legendary con-
queror Afrasiab. The Mulla I have mentioned did not know
of it as older than their own history as a distinct people. The
construction of its walls appeared similar to that of the old
stone towers still standing in most of the villages, which were
built for refnge and defence in the man-stealing times to which
I have already referred.
The cultivation consists mainly of barley (huskless), beans,
peas, carrots, and turnips. The domestic animals are camels,
yaks, ponies, oxen, sheep, and goats. The yaks are smaller tlian
the Tibetan species: they are used in the plough for agricul-
tural purposes, but, objecting most obstinately to be driven,
they can only be utilised by being lech A murrain carried off
nearly all the oxen and cows a year ago, and fresh cattle were
being obtained from the lower hills. Of wilcl animals there are
the Ovis poli and the ibex, andwild fowl of several kinds. For
clotking the universal slieepskin is used with a rough woollen
cloth, spun and made up into cloaks and lower garments,
similar to what are seen in Wakhon and the countries beyond.
Sheepskin stockings with stout leather soles, a cotton or woollen
girdle, and sheepskin cap, with a scanty cotton turban when
obtainable, complete the ordinary clress of the people. Coarse
cotton garments are worn at times by those who can afforcl the
Q
113
jecting towers, ancl bnilt of rongh unhewn stone. It cloes not
appear to have been of great antiquity, or very remarkable in
any way. The lay Jesuit, Benedict Goes, who passecl through
Sirikol in 1602-3 on his way from Wakhan to Yarkand, was
the first and only European traveller before us who hacl visited
this place. Several aceounts from other sources of information
had described the fort as a building of hewn stone, ancl of very
ancient date, going back even to the time of the legendary con-
queror Afrasiab. The Mulla I have mentioned did not know
of it as older than their own history as a distinct people. The
construction of its walls appeared similar to that of the old
stone towers still standing in most of the villages, which were
built for refnge and defence in the man-stealing times to which
I have already referred.
The cultivation consists mainly of barley (huskless), beans,
peas, carrots, and turnips. The domestic animals are camels,
yaks, ponies, oxen, sheep, and goats. The yaks are smaller tlian
the Tibetan species: they are used in the plough for agricul-
tural purposes, but, objecting most obstinately to be driven,
they can only be utilised by being lech A murrain carried off
nearly all the oxen and cows a year ago, and fresh cattle were
being obtained from the lower hills. Of wilcl animals there are
the Ovis poli and the ibex, andwild fowl of several kinds. For
clotking the universal slieepskin is used with a rough woollen
cloth, spun and made up into cloaks and lower garments,
similar to what are seen in Wakhon and the countries beyond.
Sheepskin stockings with stout leather soles, a cotton or woollen
girdle, and sheepskin cap, with a scanty cotton turban when
obtainable, complete the ordinary clress of the people. Coarse
cotton garments are worn at times by those who can afforcl the
Q