Sir Peter Lumsden gave an interesting lecture to the Royal
Geographical Society on Tuesday week. He avoided political questions, but left a general impression that the savagery of the district of which Penjdeh may be taken as the centre has been over-rated. The district is rather ruined than savage. It is exceedingly fertile and full of ruined towns, the population having been impoverished by continuous wars and raids. It is recovering under the strict Russian rule ; and the principal in- habitants—the Sarykhs—move about without arms, are steadily industrious, and are very eager to make money. They were formerly the scourge of Persia ; but the Russians will not tolerate brigandage, and the Sarykhs are seeking for new sources of wealth. This is certainly impartial testimony, and bears out the report of all travellers that the advance of Russia in Central Asia is everywhere followed by the suppression of brigandage and the slave-trade. Their withdrawal would mean local anarchy.
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