This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter ii. over the passes to kashgar. At Osh I spent two very pleasant weeks in the company of my excellent friend, Colonel Saitseff, of the Pamir Boundary Commission, and his amiable family. He held the appointment of uyasdny natyalnik (district commissioner) of the district of Osh, ruling over a population of some 175,000, of whom 35,000, all Sarts, together with 150 Russians and a garrison of 800, were concentrated in the chief town. The commissioner"s residence stands in the midst of a park, buried in luxuriant vegetation, on the right bank of the Akbura, and commands a magnificent view down the valley. My stay in Osh was, however, somewhat marred by a violent inflammation of the eyes. This trouble tried my patience severely; though after all I did not really lose much through the involuntary detention, for Islam Bai was all the time busy organising the caravan and getting it ready to start, engaging servants, seeing after two tents being made, and laying in the requisite stores, such as sugar, tea, stearine candles, petroleum, leather trunks, saddles, and so forth. I and Colonel Saitseff went one day to see Islam in his own home in the Sart quarter. He lived in a poor and simple hut of clay, standing in a little plot of ground which he owned, and had a wife and five children. I left with them presents in money and other things, by way of comforting them for the approaching absence of their prop and stay. During my previous journey I paid Islam 25 roubles (about £2 13s.) per month; now I increased this to 40 roubles (£4 4s. yd.), a large salary for an Asiatic, especially as Islam had rations and everything else free. I deposited his first year"s salary with Colonel Saitseff, who agreed to pay over to his family 10 roubles every month. As soon as ...