These peasants are remarkable for their pale, grave faces, which a celebrated traveler has compared to those of the Castilians, without the haughtiness of the latter.

Here and there some villages already deserted indicated the approach of the Tartar hordes.

The inhabitants, having driven off their flocks of sheep, their camels, and their horses, were taking refuge in the plains of the north.

Some tribes of the wandering Kirghiz, who remained faithful, had transported their tents beyond the Irtych, to escape the depredations of the invaders.
Happily, post traveling was as yet uninterrupted; and telegraphic communication could still be effected between places connected with the wire.

At each relay horses were to be had on the usual conditions.