The New York herald., 1873-11-29

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sn%oS sns is marcS "a s Old Said E%r
growing hot and the dust becoming terrible, rising
up around us IN a thick cloud. 80 dense tnat AZ
o'clock we were within o mile and q half OF Kh,va
and were met by a part OF vdrevkine's detachment
IN grande tense drawn up 20 NEE. @ 1s dne .roops
as they met each other; put Generai Vereyklne
was not there TO receive Kauimanns and we soon
learned that he had been wounded IN the afalr OF
STORY OF THE oRENBuRG DETACHMENT.
Kaufmann turned or the road, under some trees
to hear the story OF the Orenburg derachment
which was very interesting, and which will give
in my next letter. Dnring this time was very
much astOnished TO hear several reports OF cannon
which was rather extraordinary considering that
the city had already surrendered. did not re-
several days aiterward After halt of about two
hours during which time negotiations We're carried
OF the city, General Golovachon moved forward
with two companies OF infantry, leading the head
OF the column, followed by four pieces OF cannon;
after those two more companies and 200 Cossacks.
II was now about noon and in 20 minutes we were
within sight OF the renowned city. We did not see
II until we were within less than half mile
owing to the masses OF trees everywhere that
completely MID IT from 0ur view. At last II broke
upon from the clouds OF dust which we had raised,
and which prevented ms from catching more than
occasional glimpses until we we're under the very
a esy Win WaS
ditch partly dry. partly filled with water, over
which we could see the tops OF trees, Q lew tail
minareus, dOmes OF mosques and one immense
round tower that reflected the rays OF the IKE
porcelain. We were before the gate OF Hazar-Asp.
by 20 deep, arched over with brick and nanked by
heavy towers with loophOies-a little fortress in
10 receive u.s. in cloud OF dust 50 dense and thick
that at times, could not see my horse's head, we
marched with Tying colors: military band ,, from
Russian air. "B0dje Tsaria Haranyie." AS we
passed through the long arched gateway we left
the dust behind US, and emerging from this, found
the CITY before uH
VIEW or THE CITY.
think every one OF us experienced feeling OF
DISAPPOINTMENT. We had not expected much IN
the way OF architectural display or OF imposing
beauty; nevertheless, we expected something
appointed There are points Of view in Kniva
which are very picturesque, but we had entered
lain tower almost the only striking object to be
seen, was hid from view by intervening walls or
trees. Immediately before us, along the interior OF
the walls, were wide, open space, with few trees
here and there, then few mud houses and sheds,
not more than 10 or 10 feet high, a little 10 the
right great number OF round semisphorica tombs
(for there Is cemetery almost in the middle OF
the city further on more mud houses, taller and
more pretentious, with high porches all opening
to the north, with trees here and there among
them; then the mud walls Of the citadel, behind
which arose mlnaret ina or TWO. Here there was no
winding street, built up OF bare, black, hideous
mud walls, We began to see small groups OF men
in the lateral streets, in their long, dirty, ragged
timidy to us as We passed. These were the inhabi:
would all be massacred or not With what strange
awe and dread they must have gazed upon us as
Of Of 7do niles over the desert, which they had consd
cred impassable-grim stern, silent and invincible.
We must have appeared to them like some strange
powerful beings OF unknown race and world
Then we came upon crowd Of Persian slaves
who received with shouts, cries and tears OF JOY
They were wild with excitement, for they had
heard that wherever the Russians went slavery dis
appeared and they did not doubt that It would
be the case here. Some had already liberated
themselves and saw several engaged in cutting
the chains Of three or four miserable beings shout
ing the While and laughing and crying all at once
a strange and curious scene and affected me
deeply. may here relate little episode con-
not be without interest When l arrived at the
wellOf Tandjarik, in the KILL Room, was received
had not been seated in his kibtka more than i've
minutes when an old woman came to me wringng
ner pouring Iorth torrent Of words in Kirgheez Of
which ] could only distinguish the one word,
..rurcoman," and evidently begging some favor.
horses, she repeated to him her story, which had
not been able TO understand. from which It appeared
been captured three weeks previously while tending
sheep in the Bookan Tau mountains by maraud-
ing party of TurcoInans and carried OF to Khiya. to
be sold into slavery. she wanted me to tell Kauf-
mann to set him at liberty when he should arrive
at Khiva. l assured her that all the slaves would
be liberated and OF course her among the rest,
and that as he was Russian subject the "Yarim-
Kauimann is known ali over Central Asia, would
be sure to find him !; and she went away very much
consoled by me assurance: Cnrioasy % enough my
found the young Kirgheez, heavily loaded with
chains for his attempts to run away, and actually
set him at liberty to his great Joy and satisfaction
afterwards saw him gayly equipped in q red
Ehalot, with sword and gun, mounted on a horse
Usbegs.
INSIDE OF KBIvA.
street. with with bare, blank walls windowless, and
for the most part, doorless, until we came to the
citadel, which we entered by long, heavy arched
brick gateway. Here we had nearer view OF the
large town, which now came out In brilliant coors
Of blue, green purple and brown. Taking mar
directly towards this tower, we soon arrived upon
a place about 50 by rs yards square, which proved
to the great place before the palace OF the Khan.
One side OF this place was taken up by the palace,
a huge, rambling structure, with mud d-battlemented
walls, about 20 ieet high, opposite new madresa,
not yet finished; the other two sides were filed up
by sheds and private houses while at the south
eastern angle OF the palace rose, beautiful and ma
we had remarked from a distance. 1t was about
20 ieet in diameter at the bottom, taperng gradu-
ally to the top height OF about l25 feet, where it
appeared to have a diameter OF Is ieet II has
neither pedestal nor capital, nor ornament OF any
kind plain, round tower]but its surface is coy
iantly co0red with blue, green, purple and brown,
on pure white ground, arranged in variety OF
liant and beautiful effect. The tower is held In
great reverence by the Khivans, and from It's top
may be heard every evening at sunset the shrili,
piercing voice OF moolah calling the people to
prayer. The tops OF the two towers nanking the
palace gate were embellished In tue same manner
as the large tower and parts Of the lacade Of its
new madresa opposite, not vet finished, were
evidently to. be embeshed in the same manner.
Near the middle OF this place was a hole about 10
feet square and elk feet deep, which. as I after
wards learned, was the place in which criminals
were executed.
THE PALACE AND PALACE GROUNDS.
We rode into tns square and formed around it to
await the arrival Of General Kaufmann. He soon
rode IN, followed by the two Grand Dukes, and the
stan, and was.greetod with cheers. Everybody then
allghted and entered the gateway or the palace,
which was partly obstructed by heavy brass can.
non rudey cast and about o 24-pounder, should
think. Having passed this we came into long
narrow, irregular court branching of to the left
and leading to the stables, with passage to the
right leading to the harem, right In front OF the
main entrance, mass OF low, irregular mud struc-
lures, which have more the air OF cow stables than
anything else. Into these we enter by dark mar
row corridor, led by old Jacob Bal first into
q dark room, about ieet by 16 then into another