to the brave correspondent. The Colonel watched
the course of events till ten days before the fall of
Geok Tepe, and then returned. Not, however, in
his case to have altogether unacknowledged his
self-imposed mission, for it was shortly after determined
by the Government to send him back to
Khorassan as an accredited agent, “ the only English
pioneer in Central Asia,” Mr. Marvin says, “ who
has been rewarded with any official recognition of
his services.” Russia, on the other hand, he adds, as
a rule, well rewards her explorers. I know not now
Krasnovodsk and Khiva or Bokhara by the Akhal or Merv Turkomans.
In travelling by caravan at present, however, I should say there was no
danger. Small parties of nomadic shepherds, who occasionally take
to the road, as chance offers, do not dare to attack any considerable
number.
“ As I presume your principal travelling will be done in company
with caravans, you must regulate your speed according to that of laden
camels. In summer the caravans almost always halt during the entire
day, commencing their march at sunset, and continuing up to a couple
of hours after sunrise. I think you will find from 25 to 35 miles a day
a safe average to count upon, especially the lower number of miles;
for, every three or four days, the caravan bashi halts for an entire 24
hours, with a view of allowing the camels and travellers on foot, of
whom there are always many, to repose.
“ The cost of travelling will vary immensely in the localities through
which you will pass. It will be dearer to march with a caravan than if
you travel alone with your servants, for the demand occasioned by the
arrival of a large number of animals sends up the price of forage very
considerably. At Astrabad the food of each horse cost me 2 francs a
day. At Meshed it was 1J, in Dereghez 1 franc, and in Merv but half
a franc. For a fowl you pay on the average about 1 franc, and the
price of ftilau, andyaghourt (or coagulated milk) is very small indeed,
but varies immensely. The wages of a servant—board wages—are 40
francs per month. This is good pay, and for it you ought to find a
man well able to cook, and superintend your affairs generally. A
groom need not cost you more than 25 to 30 a month. With 3
horses and 2 servants, your ordinary expenses should not exceed 10, or
at most 12 francs a day ; but you will find at the end of 12 months,
between being cheated by your servants, and making presents to local
dignitaries, 2or. per diem will be a satisfactory average.”
how far these remarks are correct, but I remember that
M. Ujfalvy draws a contrast between the liberality of
Russia towards her explorers compared with his own
Government in France.
Colonel Stewart returned to Khorassan in 1883,
after reading a paper at the Geographical Society
upon “ The Country of the Tek ke Turkomans.” He
is appointed on the Afghan Frontier Commission.
The appointment of Governor bestowed on the next
traveller to Merv seems rather to illustrate the alleged
liberality of Russia towards her explorers. It was
natural enough, after O ’Donovan’ s adventure, that the
Russians should wish to go to Merv too ; whereupon,
in February, 1882, a caravan was despatched, under
Kosikh, a trader representing the firm of Koushin and
Co., of Moscow, with Fieutenant Alikhanoff disguised
as his clerk and interpreter, and Ensign Sokoloff as
another clerk— a similar plan, it will be observed, to
that enjoined by Peter the Great, when ordering a
party to proceed to Yarkand, to find out and seize the
gold mines ; or, again, like their plan in sending Vali-
khanoff, disguised as a Khokand merchant, with a
caravan to Kashgar, in 1859. In Alikhanoff’s case a
Russianized Khivan was sent on before, secretly to
arrange for the reception of the caravan, the arrival
of which caused a sensation; but the people were
assured that its objects were purely commercial, gifts
were distributed, and permission was obtained for the
caravan to remain a few weeks in the oasis.
During this period the officers took advantage of
every opportunity to examine the situation and survey
the fortress of Kaushid-Khan. The Tekkes, however,
were suspicious, and the reports of their plots to murder
the Russians caused the trader to wish to depart,