Asiatic Russia is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, in a coast line of 7333 English miles. On the east the shores of the Pacific, from Cape Chukotst to the month of Tumen ula, are 6067 miles. The shores of the Caspian and Aral Seas extend 1167 miles. The land frontier on the south, from the Caspian and Aral Seas to the mouth of the Tumen ula, is about 6667 English miles, viz. 2200 along the course of the Jaxartes, Charyn, Argun, Arnur, and Usouri, about 2233 by the Celestial, Alatan, Altai, and Sayan mountains, and an equal part of open land frontier.
Russia in Asia has about 3,768,000 miles unfitted for a settled life and only 1,930,000 square miles of eulturable 'land. The unsuitable steppes in W. Siberia and in the Orenburg region are 753,000 square miles. The tundra, or marshes and frozen land in W. and E. Siberia are 2,584,000 square miles, and the mountainous country and highlands in the Tian Shan, Alatau, Sayan, Altai, Yahlonoi, and Stanovoi mountains, 431,000 &lustre miles. There aro numerous lakes, the largest of which are Baikal, . . 12,400 sq. m. Piaaino, . 2,410 sq. in.
Balkhash, 8,530 Zaleau, . . 1,490 Ilinkai, . . 1,420 Alakul, . . GOO Chany, . 1,270 Den& Cater, rzo Sumy, . 410 Abyahkau, , 540 Kulundonak, 280 Chukchagyr, 260 Issyk-kul, . 2,500 Barun -torte, 210 The northern half of Central Asia consists of the Kirghiz desert, which is mountainous and rugged on the east, and full of saline steppes on the west. In the midst of the southern half lies the Sea of Aral, on the western side of which, up to the Caspian Sea on the west, there stretches a broad tract of desert. But it is in a fertile tmet
that the conquests of Russia were made between 1861 and 1868. After long years spent in forti fying posts, in 1861 Russia made a sudden irruption into the upper valley of the Jaxartes or Syr Darya, and in that year took three forts of Khokand, viz. Aoulietta, Turkestan and Chem kend. In the spring of 1865, the chief of Khokand fell in battle, and in June 1865 the city of Tash kend was stormed. On the 20th May 1866, they fought and won the battle of Irdjar, against the Bokhariotes, and later in the year captured the forts of Oratepo and Juzak, within 40 miles of Samarcand. On the 13th May 1868, a great battle was fought under the walls of Sa.marcand, and the city surrendered, and later in the year Bokhara yielded.
Great Britain has so recently become paramount throughout India, that this approach of Russia to its borders may inspire hopes among martial races there who would welcome any change from the uncongenial quiet of civilised settled life. Cir cumstances may drive Russia on, a.s, in 2500 years, Scythic Getm, Alexander, Arabs, Shahab-nd. Din Ghori, Chengiz Khan, Timur, Baber, Ahmad Shah, and Great Britain have been. The only possible routes for Russia would be from Balkh by way of Kabul and the Khaibar pass, or through the Kara-korum pass, or to establish her base at Herat, march via Kandahar and the Bolan pass. But this may be a dream for many centuries to come. Russians in Central Asia, Capt. 1'a/i nane/and Vemukof ; R. p. 4.