1 Km
2 mM li'i
3 perfect in this sublunary world," w e had a little epifcodg, which I
4 w ill here relate. IVdng the river, Sir—known in antiquity under
5 the name of' Jnxarles—we arrived at a custom station, where
6 they demanded an enormous toll, which we had not any right
7 whatever to pay. Ait awful quarrel arose, and we were about
8 preparing for a fight, when our antagonists, perceiving our arms,
9 began to fend a little more respect for us; they still, however,
10 continued to make n noise and to vociferate, and made fire-signals
11 for their brethren in the desert to hasten to their assistance. But
12 the affair was soon settled, and we went on our way without any
13 further mole nation. With regard to mercantile interests, I must
14 here add, that among the products and manufactures, native and
15 foreign, ol Bokhara, arc lainb-skins, dyed linen, horses, indigo,
16 Cashmere shawls, &c. Respecting indigo, I may observe that
17 it. was most impure stuffj for I observed that one-half of it was
18 nothing but particles of clay, in the same shape as it is brought
19 by the Loanis from Dhera-Ghasi-Khan, Moulton and Bliawul-
20 nore. How much might lie saved in the carriage, and in duty
21 at the custom-houses, if the indigo were purified previous to
22 exportation! We were almost induced to take with us a great
23 quantity of sarsaparilla frorr. the desert, but I soon recognised it
24 to be a mere substitute for die real article. Among other
25 objects which attracted my attention in the desert, connected
26 with scientific knowledge, was the kumiss (fermented mnreV
27 ntilk), a favourite beverage with the Jvirgis, and also with the
28 inhabitants of the Russian boundaries. I could give a great
29 many proofs that the kumiss is a very wholesome anti nutri¬
30 tious beverage. It may suffice to mention here, that the
31 governor of Orenburg returned at that time from the Ural
32 Mountains, where he bad us d the kumiss ns a cure with great
33 benefit. I may observe also, that it is introduced at the
34 tables of the nobility at Orenburg and several other places.
35 It was especially drunk by weak persons and children, as a
36 wholesome pc.;ton. Kumiss is a palatable and intoxicating
37 drink, it being produced by fermentation, arid consequently
38 spirituous. They prepare it by pouring the inareVmilk into