Gold is said to be found In the affluents of the Khotan Doris, and also In the eastern portion of the Thian Shao Mountains. Copper and iron are found at several places, and are worked. From the Thian Shan Mountains sulphur and sal-amtnoniae, asbestos and saltpetre, are obtained. Several precious stones are abundant, and two kinds, the yew and the agate, form considerable articles of commerce to China.
Ishothilania—The bulk of the population is of Turkish origin. The language of Mien Shan Naulu is not intermixed, as that of the other Turkish tribes, with terms derived from the Persian and Arabic languages, and it is considered the purest of the Turkish dialects The Turks of Thian Sturm Nanlu are divided into two tribes, Alc-tal and Kara-tak, which hate one another, and frequently make war oc each other. Each tribe is ruled by its own chief, or Bog, the Chinese reserving to themselves only military affairs, police, and customs. The army which the Chinese keep in the country, and which amounts tc between 20,000 and 30,000 men, is commanded by Mantchoo officers The tribute which the Chinese government levies upon the inhabitant' is small, but is somewhat increased by the duty on imports Tht inhabitants however are much oppressed by their own chiefs, and the Chinese do not interfere between them. The foreign commerce b carried on partly by the Turks, but mostly by the Tajicks. Both are Mobanamedium. The Tajicks, or Tadjicks, are that nation which confiders the Persian as its native language, and which is widelj spread over Central Asia. In other countries their industry Is inostij directed to the cultivation of the soil, but in Thian Shan Naulu thej are chkfly engaged In trade. They conform in costume to the Turks but preserve their own language. There are in the eastern districts especially in the town of !land and its vicinity, • considerable number o Oloth Kelmoduawho after the defeat of the Golden quietly subinittec to the sway of the Mantehoos. (SoNtiatua.) The number of Chines is not large. Besides the officers of government, a small number i established in the large commercial towns as merchants and traders In the mountains at the north-west corner of Thin!' Shan Naulu is tribe of Kirghtes relied the Kara-Kirghle, and another tribe of the nation is met with in the ranges of the Tart/Wing. Both are nomadi
tribes.
(Answerer, Towns, Mansfeeturea—About 1800 years ago commercial road was established, which traverses this country to it ength from east to west, and by which the commerce between Chiva uti Western Aida has been carried on nearly without interruption.
['hie road passes through the countries which lie along the base of the Chian Shan Mountaius. Another road, which has probably been used or an equal length of time, connects Thian Shan Nanlu and China with ho northern parts of India, especially with Cashmir, and is also much wed at the present day.
The caravans of Chlua, bound for the western countries, or Siyu, A they are called, after leaving the town of Shateheou and the gate of iiia-yu-kooan asecarr], pass through the Desert of Ilau-hai, and arrive ifter twenty days' journey at Hami (42° 53' N. lat., 03° 50' E. long.). 'Icni, or/Act/nil, is a fortified place, surrounded by high walls, which neloaa a space about two miles and a half in circuit. The town Is iurrouuded by large suburbs, and is populous. The streets are straight ind regular, but the houses low and built of dried clay. The district vund the town is carefully cultivated.
'About 240 miles west of liami is Pidshan, a fortress which is nearly a miles in oircuit, and near which the caravan road passes. About ;0 miles farther is Turfen, a considerable place, which however suffered much in the wars of the last century. Kann/tar is 290 miles west of turfan. Its fortress does nut exceed one mile in circuit. The town is populous, and built on the batiks of the Kaidu River. Its commerce is aansidemble; the inhabitants excel in embroidery. A'arti, orKerungfi, is situated on that portion of the Kaidu River which connects the Beath-Nur with Lop-Nor, and contains a population of about 4000 individuals. The soil iu the vicinity is very fertile. The town is i0 miles distant from Karashar to the south-west. Baur, or Bug ar, nearly 200 miles distant from Kuril, contains 10,000 inhabitants, and has a considerable commerce io copper, oil, sheep-skins, butter, and furs, especially lynx-skins.