CHAP. I - THE DUAB OF TURKESTAN

Summary

To begin with, some apology is needed for a name which the reader has probably not seen before. “The Duab” as applied to Turkestan is an innovation which I have chosen for practical reasons, the names in general use being either too sweepingly vague or too restricted. I wanted to circumscribe a field for systematic research which might at the same time serve as generally representative far beyond its narrower boundaries. What is known as “Turkestan” is an atmosphere, there is no better word for it, but I also wanted a locality and I defy any one to outline on the map a country called “Turkestan.” Nor would that be desirable, for a real atmosphere cannot be imprisoned within visible walls. My idea was to have a compact laboratory or natural park of definite shape but intensely saturated with an atmosphere extending far beyond the border and gradually losing its intensity as it merges into other climes.

The Duab of Turkestan is the land between the two rivers (du, two; ad, water; analogy, Panjab), between the Amu-darya and the Sir-darya or Oxus and Jaxartes. Its outline has the charm of simplicity. From the Wakhjir source of the Oxus we follow the river to the Sea of Aral; thence round the northern shore to the mouth of the Sir and up this river to where (under the name of the Narin) it breaks through the Ferghana mountains. The watershed connecting this point with the source of the Oxus completes the circuit.