Turkistan, Notes of a Journey in Russian Turkistan, Khokand, Bukhara and Kuldja (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX III. JIEDLfiVAL TRAVELLERS IN CENTRAL ASIA. Although much has already been written on the routes of the early travellers from Europe through Northern Central Asia, it may not be profitless briefly to review some of them again in connection with the Chinese records of similar journeys. 1. Zemarchus. In the fragments of Menander Protector, we find an account of an embassy of Turks, accompanied by Maniach, the chief of Sogdia, which arrived at Byzantium in 568. The next year the Emperor Justinian sent Zemarchus on a mission to Dizabulus, the ruler of these Turks. Dizabulus appears to be Dalobian Khan, the younger son of Kigin, or Muyui Khan, who established the power of the Turks (Tu-hiu) from the Western Sea to the Gulf of Corea, and from the Northern Sea to the steppes of Shamo, and who ruled from 553 to 572. Dalobian Khan, after his father's death, rebelled and founded the Western Honse of the Tu-hiu. He must have exercised a viceregal sway during his father's lifetime. He lived on the northern slope of the Tian Shan, which was then called the White Mountains, by the Chinese Bo-shan or Pe-shan, and by the Turks Ak-tag. According to Menander, Zemarchus went to the mountains Ek-tag, which he translates Golden Mountain, where he found the camp of Dizabulus in a hollow, very probably the same 'Thousand Springs' mentioned by Hiouen Thsang. As Altai means golden, the residence of this Turkish Khan has been placed by some in the Altai Mountains, and Bitter on the strength of this even names a portion of the Altai range the Ek-tag Altai, an appellation unknown on the spot, and against which Captain Sosnofsky protests. (' Mem. Imp. Buss. Geog. Soc.'; vol. v. Geography, p. 5t6; St. Petersburg, 1875). After Zemarchus had been fitly entertained, the most of ...