Means of Communication of the Kyrgyz in the Second Half of the 19th Century
Until the second half of the 19th century, the main means of movement across most of modern Kyrgyzstan were pack trails. In the valleys, they resembled dirt roads, which could accommodate simple wheeled carts. If the trail narrowed, it could only be traversed with difficulty by a rider on horseback or to transport some cargo. The difficulty of traveling on such trails can be judged from the following description: “The path from the outpost to the Alay Valley stretches through a narrow gorge, at times between two stone walls of rock, converging so closely that one must move as if in a crevice. Fragments of blue sky are visible above” (Razgonov, 1910, p. 17).
Mountain trails usually ran along riverbanks, ascended, and traversed steep, often rocky slopes of mountains. They stretched along vast high-altitude pastures and intermountain valleys, crossing high mountain passes. The pack trails, laid by the herders themselves, were numerous and varied. They traversed the territory in various directions, connecting seasonal pastures with winter encampments, valleys with highlands.
In addition to pack trails, there were nomadic paths used for transitions to seasonal pastures. Cattle drives served to move livestock to markets in Central Asian cities and sometimes to the markets of trade and craft centers in Eastern Turkestan. Caravan routes that connected Kyrgyz regions with Eastern Turkestan, neighboring Central Asian states, and centers of European civilization performed an important communication function.
In several places, pack paths crossed turbulent mountain rivers. Simple bridges were constructed for crossings. At selected narrow points of the river, several trees were laid parallel to each other from one bank to the other. Then the space between them was covered with turf and beams. “The crossing from one bank to the other is made over small bridges, very skillfully thrown across the river, using large stones and coastal rocks.
After joining Russia, trade relations expanded, new roads were laid, and the construction of large bridges on supports began. Such engineering structures could be found on any postal and many secondary routes. Construction and repair were carried out at the expense of local taxes through contracts, and the Kyrgyz population actively participated in them, widely using local building materials as part of bridge natural obligations.
Where there were no bridges, rivers were forded, and crossings were made on simple rafts - sal, made of branches and poles, to which inflated whole skins of goat kubuldu were attached. The swimmer would grab the inflated skin or one filled with fine straw with his left hand while paddling with his right. An assistant to the district chief of Pishpek wrote in 1898: “...the Kyrgyz swim across the Naryn on chanas - skins, tying themselves to the tails of horses, while placing their clothes and tying them in other chanas” (Aitmambetov, 1967, p. 212). Sheep were also transported across the river: they were caught, placed two in a row, tied tightly together by the neck with a lasso, and dragged into the water. The end of the lasso with the attached sheep was tied to the tail of a horse, which pulled them through the water. Other methods were also used.
In the second half of the 19th century, the local population actively participated in the construction of roads for wheeled transport. The Kyrgyz quickly mastered construction techniques, especially engineering approaches. They worked alongside sapper units and soldiers of Tsarist Russia. They laid postal routes and expanded pack trails. Written sources frequently mention their impeccable work. For example, regarding the construction of a wheeled road, where 60 sapper team members and 1,000 Kyrgyz workers were involved, the “Turkestan Gazette” reported: “The road is being constructed by them with astonishing speed and success. It is enough to say that in 45 days, 160 versts of a completely usable wheeled road were made from Osh to Taldyk, except, of course, for the most difficult places, where it is still necessary to clear blasted stones.”
The laid routes connecting the cities of Uzgen, Namangan, Ketmen-Tebe, and Naryn played an important economic role.
In 1902-1903, the pack-wheeled road connecting Naryn - Jalal-Abad was continued through the Toguz Toroo area and the Kugart Pass of the Fergana Range. Other roads were also built.
The Kyrgyz reliably performed the duties of postal workers and carriers on the routes, replacing, along with Kazakhs and Kalmyks, the Cossacks who had previously handled this work. They also serviced the postal station farms, which were designated by the term “beket.” Until the mid-19th century, the local population was unaware of special means of communication; messages were transmitted orally from one ayil to another, from one encampment to another - uzun kulak; communication was also maintained through messengers - mounted riders chabarman, who were considered to perform a responsible mission.
The Kyrgyz became acquainted with railway transport with the construction of narrow-gauge lines for transporting coal to other areas of Central Asia in 1908-1911. These routes connected the station of Kyzyl-Kiya with the station of Skobelevo and the station of Suluktu with the station of Dragomirovo. Attempts to establish water communication were made as early as the last quarter of the 19th century, while the development of water transport dates back to the early 20th century.
Today, the country has an extensive transport system. Ground, air, and pipeline transport provide passenger and cargo transportation both within Kyrgyzstan and across its borders. On Lake Issyk-Kul, water communication is well developed, ranging from boats to relatively large ships and barges.
Significant successes have been achieved in mastering complex types of machinery and modern means of transport.
Traditional means of transportation continued to be used throughout the 20th century, despite the spread of motorized transport. Carts remained in use not only in villages but also in cities.
In collective farms and state farms, they were used during migrations, for the delivery of coarse and succulent feed for livestock, for transporting grain, milk, building materials, and other cargo. In rural areas, there were two main types of carts. The first was called at araba - a cart with four wheels, drawn by a horse. The draft power of the cart eshik araba was a donkey. It was a single-axle cart. The at araba was mainly used in public farms, while in private households, the second type of cart predominated.
In the difficult early years after the collapse of the USSR, people increasingly relied on traditional means and skills. The demand for carts with pneumatic tires on two axles, which were often ordered from craftsmen, increased. During the systemic crisis in the early 1990s, due to the unavailability of mechanized means, such carts were successfully used in many areas. They were primarily used in the summer and autumn periods for delivering fertilizers and seeds, transporting harvested hay, potatoes, and other agricultural products. Even today, on weekends, early in the morning, one can see carts heading from the Jety-Oguz district to the city of Karakol for the market (Zaparov, 2010). To ensure safety on highways at night, reflectors (cataphotes) are installed on them. In villages, part of the population continues the tradition of using carts for transporting goods over short distances. In many villages, this folk transport is used to carry water jugs, fodder for livestock, and other cargo, as carts do not require fuel costs like vehicles. Nevertheless, the share of such transport is decreasing.
Horses and camels were also continued to be used as pack animals during the Soviet era until the widespread adoption of trucks and tractors. In the 1960s, the camel population was effectively destroyed, while the practice of transporting goods by pack continued on horses and donkeys, although larger loads began to be transported by motorized vehicles. In the 2000s, a revival of camel husbandry began in some regions. Field studies conducted in 2001-2006 in the Ak-Tala district of Naryn region recorded a slight increase in the camel population, which herders used to deliver cargo in rugged and hard-to-reach areas.
A similar situation was observed in the eastern part of the At-Bashinsky district of Naryn region.
The nomadic paths that the ancestors of the Kyrgyz traveled continue to serve for communication with other settlements and encampments during migrations. They are used by hunters who climb steep cliffs in the highlands. Nowadays, some tourists interested in the nature and traditional culture of the Kyrgyz ride horses along the high-altitude, difficult-to-access trails.
Devices for transporting goods among the Kyrgyz in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century.