the last habitation we should see for some time, and as
Nazar had a brother or relation here, they proposed to
stop for 5 hours, and then to set off in real earnest.
Accordingly we stretched ourselves in the tent of this
friendly Turkoman, the master not being at home on
our arrival, though a neighbour unceremoniously came
in, nominally to pay a visit, but seemingly to stare at
us. Meanwhile they prepared a meal for Sevier and
me, and wThen we had eaten it, the master of the tent
returned, and took down a leg of mutton wherewith to
feast his friends. When cooked, he invited us to
partake, but I declined, saying most truthfully that we
had just dined, and wanted no more. Here I forgot
that being able to eat no more is a mere figure of
speech to a Turkoman, and I am afraid that my host
either thought me rude, or attributed my refusal to
national or religious exclusiveness, for he gave a polyglot
grunt that would be understandable in any language,
and appeared to be huffed.
Sevier was able to make a good impression, however,
by doctoring him. Soon after entering, our host
stretched himself on the floor. Then his boy, 8 or 10
years of age, stood on him, and walked up and down
his body, as if kneading the patient with the soles of
his feet. This was an intended cure for a pain in the
stomach I had never before seen, nor Sevier, at any of
the three European capitals where he had studied, so
he proceeded instead to paint the patient with iodine
from the ribs to the loins. For this the man seemed
to be grateful, and good-fellowship progressed to such
you, too ! ” and something of the kind appears to be referred to in
Ps. cxxix. 8. They who go by say not so much as “ The Lord prosper
you ! We wish you good luck in the name of the Lord 1 ” There is
also the case of Boaz and his reapers (Ruth ii. 4).
a degree that, when the time drew near for us to be
moving, the three natives would willingly have stopped
for the night. This was precisely what had happened
in the case of the Russian doctor and engineer, in
whose account we had read that their guide took them
as guests to the tent of a friend for two days. I was
accordingly ware of the delay, and said “ No.” Rosy
urged that the men did not exactly know the way at
night. This difficulty was surmounted by arranging
to take a man from the aul as guide. Then our
servant further pleaded for a prolonged stay, on the
ground that it would be our last stopping-place with
fellow “ humans,” and that our host was such a “ right
good fellow,” with which I agreed, but recommended
that they should make haste back and then further
cultivate his acquaintance.
When they saw I was firm, they began to load the
camels. Hitherto Sevier and I had travelled on
horseback, but now we thought it better on starting to
“ turn in ” for the night, and directed the cradles to be
prepared accordingly. The other of our new cradles
was now pronounced unsound, so as our host happened
by a lucky fortune to have an old one at hand, this was
patched up and an exchange effected, the articles
hitherto placed in the cradles being distributed over
the remaining beasts. Now they said that there was
too much baggage for 5 camels (the fifth belonging to
the postman). It was fully late to find this out, nor
was it quite apparent how the defect was to be
remedied, for there was only one camel in the oba,
belonging to an old woman, who was anything but
amiable, and seemed not to like my face, declaring she
would not let it to me, though I know not exactly why.
Our host began to show us some cheap politeness,