CENTRAL ASIA:

FROM

THE ARYAN TO THE COSSACK.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL OUTLINE.

THE ARALO-CASPIAN SEA-GENERAL OUTLINES OF CENTRAL ASIA-THE ARAL SEA THE UST URT-THE CHINK-HISTORICAL ALLUSIONS-SIR HENRY RAWLINSON'S THEORY-ANCIENT COURSE OF THE OXUS-THE AMOU OF THE PRESENT DAY-THE JAXARTES, OR SYR-THE CASPIAN SEA.

ACCORDING to the late Sir Roderick Murchison,-no mean authority on questions relating to geognosy,-at a time long antecedent to the creation of man, the vast region, familiarly known to the present generation as Central Asia, was covered by a sea that washed the foot of a mountain range, which, at a later period, constituted the boundary lines of Afghanistan and the Chinese Empire. This pre-historic sea was spread over an area computed at 8000 square marine leagues, and extended from the Hindoo Koosh to the European shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Asof. To this huge depression on the surface of the globe Sir Roderick proposed-in compliment to Humboldt the originator of the theory-to give the name of the Aralo-Caspian Sea, whose denizens appear to have had a purely local range, and to have been clearly distinguishable from the molluscs and other marine animals inhabiting the outer ocean.

croft and Mr George Trebeck, from 1819 to 1825. Edited by H. II. Wilson, M. A. 1841.

Narrative of a Mission to Bokhara in the years 1843-45. By the Rev. Jos. Wolff, D.D. 1852.

Caravan Journeys and Wanderings in Persia, Afghanistan, Toorkistan, and Belouch. By J. P. Ferrier, Adjutant-General of the Persian Army. Translated by Capt. Wm Jesse. 1856.

Voyage en Turcomanie et à Khiva, fait en 1819 et 1820; par M. N. Mouraviev. Traduit par M. G. Lecomte de Laveau. 1823.

Narrative of a Journey from Herat to Khiva, Moscow, and St Petersburgh. By Major James Abbott. 1856.

History of Bokhara. By Arminius Vambéry. 1873.

A Journey to the Source of the River Oxus. By Capt. John Wood, Indian Navy. With an Essay by Col. Hy. Yule, C.B. 1872.

Chronological Retrospect, or Memoirs of the Principal Events of Mohammedan History. By Major D. Price. 1811.

The History of Persia, from the most Early Period to the Present Time. By MajorGeneral Sir J. Malcolm, G.C.B. 1829.

The Life of Baber, Emperor of Hindostan. Translated by Dr Leyden and W. Erskine. 1844.

Bernier's Voyage to the East Indies. Pinkerton, vol. viii.

Mémoires sur les Contrées Occidentales, traduits du Sanscrit en Chinois en l'an 648, par Hiouen Tsang, et du Chinois en Français par M. Stanislas Julien. 1858. The Russians in Central Asia. Translated from the Russian by John and Robert Michell. 1865.

Bokhara: its Amir and its People. Translated from the Russian of M. N. de Khanikof, by the Baron Clement A. de Bode. 1845.

Travels into Bokhara, &c. By Lieut. A. Burnes, F.R. S. 1834.
Travels in Central Asia. By A. Vambéry. 1864.

Sketches of Central Asia. By A. Vambéry. 1868.

The Delta and Mouths of the Amu Daria or Oxus. By Admiral A. Boutakof of the Russian Navy. Translated by Jno. Michell. Roy. Geog. Soc. Journ. xxxvii. First Ascent of the Tian Shan or Celestial Mountains, and Visit to the Upper Course of the Jaxartes or Syr Daria, in 1857. By P. P. Semenof. Translated by John Michell. Roy. Geog. Soc. Journ. xxxi.

W. H. Johnson's Report on his Journey to Ilchi, capital of Khotan in Chinese Tartary. Roy. Geog. Soc. Journ. xxxvii.

The Jaxartes or Syr Daria; from Russian Sources. By Robt. Michell, F.R.G.S. Roy. Geog. Soc. Journ. xxxviii.

A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels. Printed for Thos. Astley. 1747. Journey from Leh to Yarkand and Kashgar, and Exploration of the Sources of the Yarkand River. By G. W. Hayward. Roy. Geog. Soc. Journ. xl.

Timour's Memoirs. Translated by Capt. C. Stewart.

An Expedition to the Trans-Naryn Country in 1867. By Baron P. R. Osten Sacken. Translated by E. Delmar Morgan, F. R.G. S. Roy. Geog. Soc. Journ. xl. Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Layard's Nineveh.

Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews. Ocean Highways, &c. &c. &c.

CENTRAL ASIA:

FROM

THE ARYAN TO THE COSSACK.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL OUTLINE.

THE ARALO-CASPIAN SEA-GENERAL OUTLINES OF CENTRAL ASIA-THE ARAL SEA THE UST URT-THE CHINK-HISTORICAL ALLUSIONS-SIR HENRY RAWLINSON'S THEORY-ANCIENT COURSE OF THE OXUS-THE AMOU OF THE PRESENT DAY-THE JAXARTES, OR SYR-THE CASPIAN SEA.

ACCORDING to the late Sir Roderick Murchison,-no mean authority on questions relating to geognosy,-at a time long antecedent to the creation of man, the vast region, familiarly known to the present generation as Central Asia, was covered by a sea that washed the foot of a mountain range, which, at a later period, constituted the boundary lines of Afghanistan and the Chinese Empire. This pre-historic sea was spread over an area computed at 8000 square marine leagues, and extended. from the Hindoo Koosh to the European shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Asof. To this huge depression on the surface of the globe Sir Roderick proposed-in compliment to Humboldt the originator of the theory-to give the name of the Aralo-Caspian Sea, whose denizens appear to have had a purely local range, and to have been clearly distinguishable from the molluscs and other marine animals inhabiting the outer ocean.