Excerpt from Russian Central Asia Including Kuldja, Bokhara, Khiva and Merv, Vol. 1 of 2

I have preferred, however, when possible, to gather my materials direct from Russian authorities, and have been able to do so largely, thanks to help in translation afforded by Messrs. Robert Michell and W. H. Cromie, and by Mesdames Telfer, Bell, and Romanoff. From one Russian author, Colonel Kostenko, I have gathered much statistical infor mation, and with what labour the literature of the subject has been examined, the preface to my Bibliography will show. I need only say here that, when the name of an authority is mentioned, if the reader wishes for further information, he will be directed thereto by turning to the alphabetical list of authors.

The knowledge thus acquired I have arranged with a view to the requirements of three classes of readers. The general reader may probably not care to wade through the notes, nor, indeed, to read all the chapters. Perhaps, therefore, it may be of use to point out that the narrative portions of the journey, especially in the first volume, will be found in the chapters with titles indicative of movement - From Such-a-place to Such-a - place; or, as indicated more minutely, in the Author's Itinerary.

Readers of the second class have been regarded as students, who like to know something of the country traversed, its geography, geology, fauna and flora, the characteristics of the people, their govern ment, language, and religion. These and similar topics are touched upon in the notes, and whole chapters also are devoted to the political economy of certain provinces, to ethnography, and to historical sketches of the Khanates and their conquest by Russia.

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