Consul seemed to know what beans were. They grow
tobacco, and sell it from i8.y. to 24^. per cwt., but it is
not good, and the well-to-do purchase that imported
from Karshi and Samarkand. The cultivation of
cabbage and potatoes has commenced since the arrival
saddle-bags four or five thousand miles, and spoke of them as of marvellous
excellence. Mr. Simpson, of Wortley, grew some of Mr. O’Donovan’s
melons, but they proved insipid and flavourless, or, at best, just passable.
He also tried some of my seeds, of which only one, the Sherin-pitchek,
grew, and this he pronounces of the same type as O’Donovan’s.
Mr. Simpson says, “ I gave it a light all to itself, but it was rather
straggling and weak from the first, and could not endure the bright
sunshine. It lost its foliage, and the single fruit it bore never ripened
properly.” It was sent, however, to Dr. Haughton, and thought highly of.
Dr. Haughton received, too, a Zamcha melon, grown at Lord Eversley’s,
weighing 4lbs., of which he subsequently told me that, though familiar
with American, as well as British melons, he never in his life ate any
so fine as this from Khiva. Previously to receiving this information I
was becoming dispirited, and thinking that my seeds would turn out no
better than those of Captain Burnaby or Mr. O’Donovan. Another
trial, however, has been made of the ” Alikeh ” at Chevening, where the
gardener, taught by experience how much space was necessary, planted
the melon under a frame with five lights, expecting it to cover the entire
area. I saw the plant thus growing on September 5th. It was not so
strong, I was told, as that of the previous year, but it had three halfgrown
fruits of fair size. One of these was sent to me, not quite ripe,
on October 13th, which, upon eating ten days later, I was delighted to
be able to pronounce quite equal to those I had eaten in Khiva, and far
more delicious than anything I have ever, tasted in England. This
opinion was shared by others with me at the table. This ovate fruit
measured 8 inches long, and was green-fleshed, juicy, sweet, and eatable
to the skin. Thus I consider that Mr. Gray and Mr. Wildsmith
have demonstrated that two kinds at all events of the Khivan melons
can be grown in England. The former considers the Alikeh melons
require plenty of heat, and a long season, since English melons planted
simultaneously with them ripened six weeks before those from Khiva.
This, however, will make the latter valuable for late eating, especially as
they have such good keeping properties. I hope, therefore, that
English gardeners will learn how to grow these fruits. The great size
and robustness of the plants may prevent their having fair play in
English houses, but I have given seeds also for outdoor growth in
Florida, whence the xruit could easily be sent to the London market, so
that if, after all, I do not succeed in getting them on English tables, it
will not be for lack of endeavour.
of the Russians. Both Lieutenants Shakespear and
Conolly speak of timber as plentiful in Khiva, which I
could hardly confirm now. Logs for rafters cost from
4s. to 8i. each.
The domestic quadrupeds of Khiva, says the
“ Encyclopaedia Britannica,” are Camels, Horses, Asses,
Horned Cattle, Sheep, and Goats. Then it goes on to
enumerate of wild animals the Hog, Panther, Jackal,
Fox, Wolf, and Hare. T o these might be added, according
to some, the Tiger and Wild Ass, but when the article
mentions the Giraffe, 1 think it is in error. I have met
this statement before, and it arises, I think, from a
mistranslation of the name of an animal said to exist
on the islands in the Aral, that should be the Saiga
Antilope. Again, some authors, as Vambery, mention
the Lion on the banks of the Oxus, and the Seal in the
Aral, but I do not remember meeting any confirmation
of either. Birds are represented in the khanate by
the Wild Goose, Swan, Crane, Pelican, Duck, Moorhen,
Bustard, Pheasant, Quail, Snipe, Partridge, Magpie,
Crow, Sparrow, Nightingale, and Lark, besides the
domestic Fowl and Pigeon. The fishes include Sturgeon,
Sterlet, Bream, Pike, Carp, and Sandre.
I learnt from Matmurad that in the town of Khiva
there are scarcely any Tajiks—-only about 15 tradesmen—
but that Uzbegs predominate, and the rest are
Turkomans and Sarts. T hey have also a few Jews—
less, I believe, than half a dozen— and without a
synagogue. T he northern portion of the khanate is
peopled partly by an inconsiderable tribe called Kara-
kalpaks, but I think this was more especially the case
when the delta of the Amu, where now they chiefly
live, belonged to Khiva. Two other races are mentioned
in the khanate, namely, a few Arabs living about