Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/38

Rh obtaining information regarding the very interesting countries under the sway of the late Ameer Yakub Beg. A few extracts from the official report which has not yet been more than sparsely published may be useful in throwing additional light on the particular region traversed by Col. Prejevalsky.

The chief cities on the southern slopes of the Tian Shan range are Aksu, Kucha, Korla, Karashahr, and will be noticed in order. Aksu is a very ancient city, and was formerly called Arpadil or Ardabil. It is situated at the base of the Tian Shan range at the southern entrance to the Muzart or Glacier Pass. It covers two ridges of gravel heights on the left bank of the Aksu river, where it is joined by the TJsh or Kokshal river, and has a citadel on each ridge. This city was destroyed by earthquake in A.D. 1716. The climate is described as very salubrious, though the winters are extremely rigorous. The citizens are peaceable and industrious. They are more purely Turk in their physiognomy than the citizens of Kashgar or Yarkand, and are supposed to be the people of Artush, north of Kashgar, the purest representatives of the ancient Uighur conquerors.

Aksu is celebrated for its manufactures of saddlery and harness, its pottery, and rude hide jars. Its tobacco is considered the best that is produced in the country. The mineral resources of the country are considerable, and mines of lead,