登陆注册
5382300000092

第92章 CHAPTER XIII(7)

Agriculture certainly requires less land than sheep-farming, but it requires very much more labour, and to hard work the Bashkirs were not accustomed. They could bear hardships and fatigues in the shape of long journeys on horseback, but the severe, monotonous labour of the plough and the sickle was not to their taste. At first, therefore, they adopted a compromise. They had a portion of their land tilled by Russian peasants, and ceded to these a part of the produce in return for the labour expended; in other words, they assumed the position of landed proprietors, and farmed part of their land on the metayage system.

The process of transition had reached this point in several aouls which I visited. My friend Mehemet Zian showed me at some distance from the tents his plot of arable land, and introduced me to the peasant who tilled it--a Little-Russian, who assured me that the arrangement satisfied all parties. The process of transition cannot, however, stop here. The compromise is merely a temporary expedient. Virgin soil gives very abundant harvests, sufficient to support both the labourer and the indolent proprietor, but after a few years the soil becomes exhausted and gives only a very moderate revenue. A proprietor, therefore, must sooner or later dispense with the labourers who take half of the produce as their recompense, and must himself put his hand to the plough.

Thus we see the Bashkirs are, properly speaking, no longer a purely pastoral, nomadic people. The discovery of this fact caused me some little disappointment, and in the hope of finding a tribe in a more primitive condition I visited the Kirghiz of the Inner Horde, who occupy the country to the southward, in the direction of the Caspian. Here for the first time I saw the genuine Steppe in the full sense of the term--a country level as the sea, with not a hillock or even a gentle undulation to break the straight line of the horizon, and not a patch of cultivation, a tree, a bush, or even a stone, to diversify the monotonous expanse.

Traversing such a region is, I need scarcely say, very weary work--

all the more as there are no milestones or other landmarks to show the progress you are making. Still, it is not so overwhelmingly wearisome as might be supposed. In the morning you may watch the vast lakes, with their rugged promontories and well-wooded banks, which the mirage creates for your amusement. Then during the course of the day there are always one or two trifling incidents which arouse you for a little from your somnolence. Now you descry a couple of horsemen on the distant horizon, and watch them as they approach; and when they come alongside you may have a talk with them if you know the language or have an interpreter; or you may amuse yourself with a little pantomime, if articulate speech is impossible. Now you encounter a long train of camels marching along with solemn, stately step, and speculate as to the contents of the big packages with which they are laden. Now you encounter the carcass of a horse that has fallen by the wayside, and watch the dogs and the steppe eagles fighting over their prey; and if you are murderously inclined you may take a shot with your revolver at these great birds, for they are ignorantly brave, and will sometimes allow you to approach within twenty or thirty yards. At last you perceive--most pleasant sight of all--a group of haystack-

shaped tents in the distance; and you hurry on to enjoy the grateful shade, and quench your thirst with "deep, deep draughts"

of refreshing kumyss.

During my journey through the Kirghiz country I was accompanied by a Russian gentleman, who had provided himself with a circular letter from the hereditary chieftain of the Horde, a personage who rejoiced in the imposing name of Genghis Khan,and claimed to be a descendant of the great Mongol conqueror. This document assured us a good reception in the aouls through which we passed. Every Kirghis who saw it treated it with profound respect, and professed to put all his goods and chattels at our service. But in spite of this powerful recommendation we met with none of the friendly cordiality and communicativeness which I had found among the Bashkirs. A tent with an unlimited quantity of cushions was always set apart for our accommodation; the sheep were killed and boiled for our dinner, and the pails of kumyss were regularly brought for our refreshment; but all this was evidently done as a matter of duty and not as a spontaneous expression of hospitality. When we determined once or twice to prolong our visit beyond the term originally announced, I could perceive that our host was not at all delighted by the change of our plans. The only consolation we had was that those who entertained us made no scruples about accepting payment for the food and shelter supplied.

I have adopted the ordinary English spelling of this name. The Kirghiz and the Russians pronounce it "Tchinghiz."

From all this I have no intention of drawing the conclusion that the Kirghiz are, as a people, inhospitable or unfriendly to strangers. My experience of them is too limited to warrant any such inference. The letter of Genghis Khan insured us all the accommodation we required, but it at the same time gave us a certain official character not at all favourable to the establishment of friendly relations. Those with whom we came in contact regarded us as Russian officials, and suspected us of having some secret designs. As I endeavoured to discover the number of their cattle, and to form an approximate estimate of their annual revenue, they naturally feared--having no conception of disinterested scientific curiosity--that these data were being collected for the purpose of increasing the taxes, or with some similar intention of a sinister kind. Very soon I perceived clearly that any information we might here collect regarding the economic conditions of pastoral life would not be of much value, and I postponed my proposed studies to a more convenient season.

同类推荐
  • 抒情集

    抒情集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秋夜喜友人宿

    秋夜喜友人宿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 辨症汇编

    辨症汇编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Charmed Life

    A Charmed Life

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞山大师语录

    洞山大师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 夫不教妻之过

    夫不教妻之过

    她,阎猫儿,职业婚托。高文凭,高智商,姿色过人,游走在渴盼第二春的老男人之间,以结婚为诱饵,骗取财富,逍遥挥霍,过着今朝有酒今朝醉的惬意生活。家族渊源是身为老白脸的老爸,当然,老爸并不是生来就老,只是一直从小白脸做到老白脸而已。所以,在一色牟利这一行当里,她是根正苗红,理直气壮。当玉帝被王母耳提面命的时候,他对阎猫儿既羡慕又嫉妒,于是决定以一场空难解决了她。可惜,他没料到,此女背景很,非常,特别的不一般。这是一个色女向超级色女转变的故事,她主宰江湖,混迹官场,豢养美男三千,收服世间痴男暴男美男权男,与神仙对话,同鬼怪笑谈,乐时笑天下,疯时捅破天,悲时独隐藏,痛时舔舐伤!她是一个传奇,所以充满故事,而每一段故事,都是一段可歌可泣的爱情,每一个男人,都是她身上不可拆卸的肋骨!~~~~~~~~~~~可爱分隔了秀~~~~~~~~~~~~为了保命,为了不受折磨,阎猫儿该如何自处呢?她又如何在这陌生的环镜中达成理想,完成多年的夙愿呢?!这个妖孽般的美男又跟她有何种恩怨呢?凌千夜——阎罗庄的管家,从小出生便像妖怪,被世人唾弃,被父母嫌弃。阎罗女猫儿保护了他,并说他是阎罗王最尊贵的客人,在他长大之后,猫儿第一眼见到他,便要了他。灵儿——猫儿的通房男侍,温柔体贴,一心一意伺候猫儿,对其他任何事都不感兴趣。独孤海——曾经的皇帝,现在的采花大盗。被猫儿弄得身败名裂,世人宁愿他死了,也不愿意承认他活着。他虽然采遍无数花,但依然无法彻底将猫儿放下。独孤拓——现在皇帝,他从小跟在猫儿身边,后来被猫儿一手推向了皇位,替代了独孤海,他身在其位,却日夜承受着痛苦。但渐渐被权力迷失了自己,不愿意再做任何人的傀儡。紫月——灵狐祖师,沉睡了三千年醒来,以前没被猫儿那妖媚的娘迷倒,却栽在了猫儿的手中,在感慨之余,心中却甜蜜的紧,甘心做她身边一个男妾。伊期爱——来自天界,拥有最纯阳的灵魂,从小便跟猫儿订了亲,只因为猫儿需要他的‘滋润’,不然就会变成白痴……他自称第一夫君,脾气暴燥,还有个表姐‘情人’,而且还是个大肚子的。艾经亦——俊美潇洒的神医,风流多情,拥有二百多个小妾的他,注定无法与猫儿在一起,心想他已练得够强大,却不料遇到她,依然不堪一击。韦星隐——暴燥的小处男,猫儿不小心中了药之后跟他发生XXOO之后,他便死赖着猫儿,要做她的夫君。
  • 江南碧血(一)

    江南碧血(一)

    一座高大绵长的墙壁上,开着一扇不起眼的小门。门从里边被打开,两个穿着鲜亮的魁梧男子出来,接引聂轻尘走进门中。这一次,李乔没被蒙住双眼,他紧跟在聂轻尘身后跨过小门,顿时被墙壁那一边的景象惊呆。墙里是一片不见尽头的清幽美景。假山活水布置奇巧,点点楼阁、处处亭榭掩映其间,虽是人工堆叠的园林,却比真山真水更有缠绵动人之处。李乔目瞪口呆,没走几步早已不辨方向,如堕梦中,不禁感慨道:“东京城果然是天下第一胜地,居者都是好福气。先生,咱们去出诊的人家快到了吗?”聂轻尘兀自在前面走着,说:“早已到了。”
  • 科技巫师

    科技巫师

    这是一个在巫师世界研究科技的故事。……概率、电磁感应、核物理、相对论……用科学的方式探索、学习,便能掌握一切。李察一向这么认为,直到他穿越到类似中世纪的世界,成为一名王子,接着……被一条龙叼走。“这有点不太符合空气动力学啊?这不满足‘库塔条件’、‘绕翼环量’和‘伯努利定理’的东西,是怎么飞起来的?靠内置发动机?”李察忍不住的出声道,低头看向骑在身下的巨龙,“嗯,我需要研究研究。”“对了,刚才你说,之所以绑架我这个王子,是想给你的龙女儿找个玩伴?这个理由有点太勉强了吧?““吼!“巨龙怒吼着挥动双翼,直冲天际。书友群:725789329
  • 小夜曲:音乐与黄昏五故事集(2017诺奖得主石黑一雄作品)

    小夜曲:音乐与黄昏五故事集(2017诺奖得主石黑一雄作品)

    本书是作者的第一部短篇集,全书以音乐为线索,由五个看似独立却又相互关联的故事组成。故事的主要人物都同音乐情牵相关:郁郁不得志的餐厅乐手,风光不再的过气歌星,孤芳自赏的大提琴手,为求成功被迫整容的萨克斯手等等,多是对音乐一往情深,对生活却满腹牢骚。情节或荒诞不经,或令人唏嘘,借音乐人生这个主题,表现了作者一贯的对现代人生存状态的反思:理想与现实的差距,命运的嘲弄,才华的折磨,以及庞大社会机器控制下被压抑的情感……
  • 牧人次洋的夏天

    牧人次洋的夏天

    龙仁青,当代著名作家。1967年3月生于青海湖畔铁卜加草原1986年7月毕业于青海海南民族师范学校藏语言文学专业。先后从事广播、电视、报纸等媒体的新闻翻译(汉藏文)、记者、编辑、导演、制片等职,现供职于青海电视台影视部。
  • 佛说无量寿经

    佛说无量寿经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 庐隐作品集(2)(中国现代文学名家作品集)

    庐隐作品集(2)(中国现代文学名家作品集)

    用斧子砍死一个人,因为他是我们的敌人,这是多么冠冕堂皇的话,谁能反对他这个理由呢?——由我们元祖宗亲已经给了我们放仇人不过的教训。
  • 恋爱菜鸟翻身记

    恋爱菜鸟翻身记

    安安猛地回神,坐正身子,肖寒就站在座位旁边,手指敲了敲桌面,一副公事公办的模样。“啊,那个……”想了两天,她终于想起临走时他说了什么了。他说企划书要及时交上来……有这样的吗?表白完就提工作要求!“我、我马上传给您,肖总。”安安也不知道他怎么会亲自来策划部,更不知道他来了多久,可能早就把自己发呆的一幕看在眼里了。“嗯,别急,慢慢来。”肖寒的声音里似乎含着笑意:“不过另一件事得抓紧了啊。”说完他就径自出了办公室。安安在同事们窃窃私语的声音里悄悄转头看了一眼他的背影,思考着要怎么答复。
  • 她的生活我的戏

    她的生活我的戏

    《她的生活我的戏》收录了《幸福在哪里》、《故事里的事》、《虚构》、《露天电影院》、《老》、《父与子》、《比拽》、《世界》、《收藏白酒之事件》、《诗人老黑》、《神奇的瓜子》等近百篇微型小说作品。
  • 云上的日子

    云上的日子

    阿舍,女,原名杨咏,维吾尔族,1971年生,新疆尉犁人,西北第二民族学院毕业。银川文学院签约作家。出版长篇历史小说《乌孙》。散文《小席走了》获2004年第五届“PSI—新语丝”网络文学一等奖;散文《山鬼》获2011年《民族文学》年度奖。