The herds of the wandering tribes consist of horses, camels, cattle, and sheaf). Deer, argali, and wild hogs are extremely numerous. Most of the lakes abound in fish. The fish taken by the Russians are chiefly starlets, sturgeons, white salmon, Salmo jiuviaiilis, and Undue Iota.
The minerals which are mentioned are sal-ammoniso, sulphur, salt, iron, and coaL The last two minerals are found in abundance a few miles west of Kuldsha.
Initabtlants.—The Khirghia Cossaks possess the western districts since the downfall of the empire of the Songares. In the other parts of Songaria the different nations of the Oloth or Kelm:mks form the bulk of the population. The most numerous are the Turgut, or rather Toorgoot, who emigrated from Russia in 1771 and 1772, and were then estimated to amount to about 80,000 families. The two united nations of the Oliith proper and the Songares are dispersed over the whole country, and among them are settled the nations which, since 1757, have been sent there by the court of Peking, the Tshsgar Mongols, the Mandshoos, and the Chinese themselves. The Mandshoos and Chinese are engaged in agricniture, commerce, trade, or employed by government. The Tehagars are soldiers and agricultu rists, and chiefly live in the military colonies. The majority of the other tribes live on the produce of their herds, but many of them apply themselves to agriculture.
Divisions and Towna—The eastern districts, or those which extend along the northern base of the Thian-shan Mountains, have been incorporated into the province of Kansi, which constitutes an integre part of China proper. The western districts are united under a provincial government, established at Kuldsha on the Ili, and con stitute the government of Ili. These two parts together are also known under the name of Thian-shan Pelts, or the North Road of Thian-shan, ae the great road from Peking to the north-western boundary of the Chinese empire traverses them in their length. The northern districts, that is, the basin of the rivers 'dish and Urung-hu, and some smaller basins, constitute a part of the government of Khobdo, or Gobdo, the greater portion of which lies east of the Egtag Altai.
That part which belongs to the province of Kenai contains the towns of Barkol and 00mm-tat Barkol, called by the Chinese Min si-fu, is near the eastern extremity of the Thian-shan Mountains, north of Hami; it is a fortress with a considerable garrison, and it has some commerce on account of the great road passing through it.
The country in which it is built seems to be very elevated, as it is stated that snow sometimes oocurs in July. Oorum-tri, or Urunt-tsi, which lies about 250 miles farther west, near the base of some offsets of the Bogdo Oola, in a very fertile district, consist of two towns, Old and New Oorum-tai, which are about two miles from one another. They am well built, with wide streets. The military colony originally established at these places consisted of 8000 families. The town has a large population, and is considered to be the most thriving and industrious place in Songaria. The Chinese have established several manufactures and schools The Chinese name of Oorum-tsi is Ty hua-choo. It is a town of the second class, the capital of the western district of Kenai. It carries on a considerable trade with Kuldsha and Tarbagatai.
The capital of the government of Ili is Kuldsha, or Gouldsha, called also Ili and Kura, and by the Chinese Hoeiluanshing. It stands about a mile from the banks of the river Ili, and is inclosed with a wall built of hewn stone 18 feet high. It contains about 10,000 houses and 50,000 inhabitants, and is the seat of the provincial government, and of the military administration of the army, which is posted along the western boundary of the Chinese empire. It carries on a con siderable trade with Oorum-tai and Signan in Shensi, and also with Kashgar in Chioese Turkistan, and with Tarbagatai. About 0 miles N. from Kuldaha Is Kashmir, or Kashmir-hure, u modern town with 3000 houses, mostly inhabited by Chihese settlers, who are very Industrious. Tarbagalai, called by the Khirghia Cossaks Toogootahuk, and by the Chinese Souishing-ching, is situated not far from the southern base of the Tarbagatai Mountains, and is fortified. It con tains about 600 houses, and 3000 inhabitants, of whom 2500 belong to the garrison. It carries on a considerable commerce with the Khirghis Cosmic% and has some trade with Kuldsha, Oorum-tai, and Khobdo.