CHAPTER LXIX.
FROM KUNIA VEZIR TO SARY KAMISH.
Order of march and loading camels.— Tragical end of a china
basin.—Climbing a camel’s humpgg-The Oxus bed at Akbugut.—
Description of old Oxus bed from Kunia Urgenj._
The Butenau plateau and Kazak tombs.—Cliffs of the Ust Urt
and traces of Jenkinson.— The Kitchkine-daria.—The pool at
Dekche.—Further description of the Oxus bed.—Wells of Sary
Kamish.—Correction of Murad for stealing.—Character of
guides.—Arrival at Sary Kamish . . . . . 386
CHAPTER LXX.
SARY KAMISH AND OLD BEDS OF THE OXUS.
Lakes of Sary Kamish and their characteristics.—Testing specific
gravity of water.— Its chemical analysis.— Crossing the lake
basin to the Ust Urt. — Jenkinson’s alleged “ Bay of the
Caspian.”—Geographical problems respecting the course of
the Oxus and Sea of Aral.—Historical discussion and physical
investigation^/“— Testimony of travellers from 1717.— Reconnaissances
of Markozoff, Stebnitzky, Glukhovsky, Lupandine,
and Petrusevitch.— Four dry Oxus beds.— The feasibility of
diverting the Oxus into the CaspianM-The cause of its deflection
eastwards . . . . . . . . . . jog
CHAPTER LXXI.
FROM SARY KAMISH TO KAPLAN KIR.
Mounting the Ust Urt.— The well Uzun Kuyu.—Saxaul and other
fuel.— Bread baken on the coals.—Capture of a gazelle.—
Remains of sun worship.— Troubles with attendants.— Breakfast
on a camel’ s back:—-The wells of Kazakhli.—The bay of
Kaplan Kir.—A dry ocean bed.;—-Kaplan Kir not an island.—
The wells of Kum-sebshem.—Ascent from the bed of Kaplan Kir 410
CHAPTER LXXI I.
FROM KAPLAN KIR TO KRASNOVODSK.
Road to well of Seikiz Khan.— Improved prospects, but low spirits.
— Search of Bible for illustrative passages.— Lack of domestic
comforts.— -Revival of hope at sight of Caspiansft-Russian
itinerary from Iliali to Krasnovodsk.—The pond of Porsu.—
Gazelles.—The Kara-boghaz and its geography.—A sixteen
hours’ march.— Oriental customs illustrated.—Fauna of the
steppe.^The land tortoise.—Last night on the camel’ s back.—-
Mouldy bread and tattered garments.—Arrival at Krasnovodsk 421
CHAPTER LXXIII.
TURKMENIA.
PAG E
Turkmenia: its boundaries, area, and surface.— Russian maps
with new frontier.— Revision of this and following chapters by
M. Lessar.—The Caspian littoral.—The Balkhan, Kuren-dagh,
and Kopet-dagh mountains.—The rivers Atrak and Gurgan.—
Meteorology, flora, and fauna.—The Turkomans : their origin,
physiology, and characteristics.—Turkoman tribes : their distribution
and sub-divisions.—Habitations, food, and occupations.—
Turkoman women . 434
CHAPTER LXXIV.
THE TURKMENIAN OASES.
Oases of Akhal, Attek, Tejend, and Merv.— The Akhal oasis: its
dimensions, settlements, and history.— The Attek settlements,
history, and hydrography.— The Tejend oasis.— The Heri Rud
from Herat to Sarakhs, and below.— The Merv oasis.— The
Murgab from Penjdeh.— Unknown country between the Murgab
and Heri Rud.—The desert around Merv, and its historical
associations.—Merv in the times of Bumes, Abbott, Shake-
spear, and Wolff—List of Central Asian travellers from the
13th to the 19th centuries ■ 449
CHAPTER LXXV.
THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE TO MERV.
Russo-Turkoman relations from 1713.— Russian forts on the Caspian
seaboard. — Opposition from Kirghese and Turkomans.
Russian advance to Kizil Arvat and Chikishliar. Failures
under Markozoff. — Pacification of Yomud Turkomans by
Lomakin.—Lomakin’s defeats by the Akhal Tekkes. ;Skobe-
lefFs campaign and capture of Geok Tepe. Turkmenia visited
by political agents, private adventurers, and a journalist.—
Journeys of Marsh, Napier, Macgregor, Butler, and Petrusevitch.—
O’Donovan’s ride to Merv, and extracts from his private
correspondence.— Journeys in disguise of Stewart to Khorassan
and Alikhanoff to Merv. — Benoist-M6chin s journey from
Khiva to.Merv-. . 46°