Nomads turning farmers on the khan's orders
Editorial contextUnkovsky notes that thirty years earlier the Kalmyks had little grain because they did not know how to plough, but now fields were multiplying: not only their subject Bukharans (settled Turkestani farmers) but many Kalmyks had taken up farming by the ruler's order. He lists wheat, millet, barley and rice, and melons, apricots, grapes and pomegranates from Yarkand and the other towns under Dzungar rule.
Some thirty years before this they had little grain, because they did not know how to plough. Now their fields multiply by the hour, and not only the subject Bukharans sow grain, but many Kalmyks are taking up ploughing, because there is an order from the Kontaisha about it.
Working translation
Original wording
Предъ симъ временемъ лѣтъ за тридцать хлѣба мало имѣли, понеже пахать не умѣли. Нынѣ пашни у нихъ отъ часу умножаются, и не токмо подданные Бухарцы хлѣбъ сѣютъ, но и Калмыки многіе за пашню пріемлются, понеже о томъ Контайши приказъ есть.
About Dzungars (Oirats) and subject Bukharans
Keep in mind
The same page opens with Unkovsky's prejudiced remark that Kalmyks learn cunning and theft from childhood.
Kalmyk chiefs who wear deer antlers
Editorial contextFrom Bukhara merchants Burnes heard that Kalmyk Tartars settled around Ili and Yarkand marked their chiefs and nobles by fixing deer's horns on their skull-caps, the size of the antlers showing rank. He adds a crude rumour about their women, and says the Chinese used Kalmyks to guard the frontier.
There are Calmuk Tartars settled around Eela and Yarkund, who have a singular custom to distinguish their chiefs and grandees, by fixing deer's horns on their skull-caps.
About Kalmyk Tartars (Oirats) under Qing rule
Keep in mind
Hearsay; the next page adds a sexual slander Burnes 'was assured' of.
Greek soldiers' descendants in 'Chinese Tartary'
Editorial contextListing people who claimed descent from Alexander the Great, Burnes adds that Tungan soldiers from western China garrisoning Yarkand claimed descent from Alexander's soldiers. He notes the claimants in the Oxus hills were Tajiks, who lived there 'before it was overrun by Toorkee or Tartar tribes', and doubts the claims against the historical record.
the soldiers of the Toonganee tribe, who are sent from the western provinces of Chinese Tartary, and garrison Yarkund and the neighbouring cities, claim also a Grecian origin. They, however, seek, with greater modesty, a descent from the soldiers of Alexander's army
About Tungan (Hui) soldiers; Tajik princes
Keep in mind
Reported claims that Burnes himself questions.
Yarkand's new citadel and the old town dug up for treasure
Editorial contextMirza Haidar describes how Aba Bakr made Yarkand his capital: he dug out the old town, finding much treasure, brought in water channels, laid out gardens and built a citadel thirty gaz high with six gateways guarded by paired towers. It is a local ruler's building programme described by a man who knew the city well.
The old town was dug out by Mirza Aba Bakr ; it was among the excavations [kazihka] which we have spoken about, and much treasure was found [in it]. … Mirza Aba Bakr built a citadel which, in most places, is thirty statute gaz in height.
About Mirza Aba Bakr, Dughlat ruler of Kashgar
Keep in mind
Mirza Haidar himself doubts the report of 12,000 gardens.
Yarkand: from Mughal khans to Kalmyks to China
Editorial contextIzzet Ullah sketches Yarkand's history: once ruled by Moghul khans, it fell to the Kalmaks, whose chief lived at Ili. Then an epidemic killed the Kalmak ruler, his family and vast numbers of his people, rival Khoja factions fought, and China conquered the country about sixty years before his visit. This matches the collapse of the Dzungar state in the 1750s.
fell into the hands of the Kalmaks. The chief of the Kalmaks, entitled the Tura, resided at Ila, and a deputy on his part was sent to Yarkand. After some time an epidemic occurred amongst the Kalmaks, which carried off the Tura, his children, his chief men, and a vast number of people.
About Kalmaks (Dzungar Oirats); Khojas; Qing Chinese
Keep in mind
Local oral history; Wilson's footnote adds dates from other sources.
Ruined buildings of the Kirghiz, 'a Mongol tribe speaking a Turkish dialect'
Editorial contextOn the road from Ladakh to Yarkand, Izzet Ullah passed a place called Kirghiz Jangal (Kirghiz thicket) with the ruins of Kirghiz buildings. He explains that the Kirghiz had lived there until they were expelled for plundering caravans, before China took the region. Elsewhere on his route the Kirghiz live in felt tents, so the note that these nomads also left buildings behind is worth noticing.
On the road half way is a place called Kirghiz thicket, where are the remains of some of their ruined edifices, that tribe having been resident here before the country was subjected to China: being in the habit of plundering the Kafilas they were expelled. The Kirghizes are a Mongol tribe, speaking a Turkish dialect.
About Kirghiz
Keep in mind
He saw the ruins; who built them and why they left is local report.
Yarkand, a magnificent city 'under the Chinese'
Editorial contextGerard passes on what he was told about Yarkand, forty days north of Leh. It is described as a large, magnificent city of lofty buildings, ruled by China, where the people are 'Moguls' who speak Turkish and Russian merchants often come. He had not seen it himself.
Yarkund is described as being a large and magnificent city, containing many splendid and lofty buildings ; it is under the Chinese, and the inhabitants are Moguls, and speak the Turkish language. It is said that Russian merchants often visit Yarkund.
About Turkic-speaking 'Moguls' under Qing rule
Keep in mind
Pure hearsay; Gerard never went north of the Himalaya.
Frozen half-moon dumplings for winter journeys
Editorial contextPart 2 of Weber's work prints an account 'Of Tartarian Bukhara' by an author who says he had been in Little Bukhara himself. He notes that the men's dress differs little from the Tartar, that they eat with their fingers and wooden spoons, drink tea with milk, salt and butter, and fill half-moon-shaped pastries with chopped meat, which they freeze and carry in a sack on long winter journeys to boil into soup.
They fill a kind of pastry, shaped like a half moon, with it. On long journeys, especially in winter, they take a good supply of these pastries with them and carry them in a sack. When this food has first frozen thoroughly in the air, it is cooked in boiling water, and a fairly good soup is made of it.
Working translation
Original wording
Sie füllen mit denselben eine Art Pasteten, die wie ein halber Mond gestaltet sind. Auf weiten Reisen, insonderheit in Winter, nehmen sie einen guten Vorraht von diesen Pasteten mit, und tragen sie bey sich in einem Sakke. Wenn nun diese Speise vorher an der Luft rechtschaffen durchgefroren ist, so wird sie in einem siedenden Wasser gekocht, und eine ziemlich gute Suppe davon gemacht.
About Bukharans of Little Bukhara (Turkic Muslims of the Tarim oases, then under Zunghar rule)
Keep in mind
The author is not named; he says he had visited Little Bukhara.