Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

part iv | migrations of cultures
Large kime were as much as 20 metres or more in length, from bow to stern, more
than 5-metres wide in the middle, and one metre high on the sides. Inside, the vessel
was divided into compartments by beams laid across from one side to the other and
fastened with strips of iron. There were two compartments for the boatmen (kaikchi
or kimechi) on the stern and bow, and three more in the middle of the boat. The
average kime was about five metres long and more than three metres wide. Large kime
could carry up to 16–18 camels, or 18–20 horses, or 200 sheep or 700–800 poods
(approximately 11.5–13 tonnes) of grain, while medium-sized kime could carry 10–
12 camels, or 12–14 horses, or 150 sheep and up to 400 poods (6.5 tonnes) of grain.
The kime were rowing vessels with no sails, steered by short, triangular, heavy oars.
However, according to Bykov, the main means of propulsion were horses, tethered to
beams on the vessel by rope.
Two horses were usually used, one was tied to the front and one to the stern, on
the side opposite to the current, so that the spine of the horse was 60–70 cm below
the sides of the boat. In deep water, the horses would swim across, but in shallow
water and on the shore they would pull the boat along while tethered to a strong rope
by means of a harness and a shaft.
As Bykov noted, this method of steering the vessel through shallow water and by
land was exactly the same as the one used in Russia at the time.
The kime was used not only to cross the river, but also to sail on it, as can be
seen from the calculations provided by Bykov, according to which, with a tow rope,
upstream, a kime could cover 25 versts (nearly 27 km) at most per day, while further
down the river in deep water it would cover 80 versts (just over 85 km) per day, which
was equivalent to a three- or four-day journey by land.
Thus, a kime could cover the distance from Termez to Khorezm in 8–10 days.
As a reconnaissance officer, Bykov was primarily interested in the use of these
vessels for military purposes. According to his preliminary calculations, two large
kime were needed to transport one company of infantry of no more than 160
bayonets, without cargo.
During the same period, two kinds of vessels were widely used in the lower
reaches of the Amu Darya: kayuks and kemas. The scholar G.P. Snesarev has been
able to provide us with some useful ethnographic details. The kemas were large, flatbottomed
vessels propelled by both oars and sails, which were used for transporting
agricultural produce, fabrics and other cargo. They sailed down the Amu Darya as far
as the Aral Sea and up to Termez, while the journey from Khorezm (from Khanka) to
Termez overland took a month.
The crew of a large kema consisted of a captain (darga), his assistant (yarimdarga),
who acted as helmsman, as well as fifteen sailors. They were all members of a
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