The New York herald., 1873-11-29

heard what they had to say and sent them 10
Kaufmann, and continued the march. They were
sent BY the Governor OF Hazar-Asp, Said Emir OoL
Oomar, an uncle 10 the Khan to oner their sub
mission and surrender the fortress The Governor
himself had gone 70 Khlva. Their submission was
accepted; but Kanfmann, used 70 all the tricks
and wiles OF Central Asian warfare, omitted no
precaution, nevertheless. to prevent surprise.
Qhe morning was bright and warm; the orchards
and gardens through which we were passing
green and fresh fragrant with the od0r OF many
blossoms and the march seemed more like holi-
day excursion or picnic than the iron tread OF
grim -visaged war. Some OF the houses along the
road we found abandoned; but at others the in
habitants were quietly sitting on the ground before
their DOORS and rose and bowed gravey to us as
we passed. About ten O'Clock we came In sight Of
the fortress, which, as seen through the trees at
distance, with It's hgh-battemented walls and
butuesses crooked and irregular, and the water
surrounding it, presented noble appearance, not
unlike Windsor Castle. We halted few minutes,
as some men were seen on the walls, and In spite
Of the fortress having already been surrendered.
General Kaufman was not sure that there was not
some mischief preparing. The proper dispositions
having been taken, the army again moved for
waru, and entered long, narrow, covered
street, with q single line OF houses or
shops on each side OF it, which, leading
causeway and entrance to the fortress. We filed
through this crooked, irregular street. not without
some apprehensons Of an ambuscade, and making
two or three short to the right and left found
ourselves in front OF the main entrance. A heavy,
massive, arched gateway, with 1anking towers,
the whole built OF brick and plastered over with
mud, closed with heavy wooden gates, which had
been pierced in one or two place with holes, evi-
IDENTITY made by cannon balls Ia some old siege.
THE PALACE.
Kaufman rode in, followed by his stan and a
couple OF companies OF infantry made the circuit
OF the inside OF the fortress, which, likewise, en-
closed the most or the town; and, winding about
through several very narrow, crooked streets, we
at last dismounted in q small court and entering
by succession OF small, dark corridors and rooms,
found ourselves in the principal court OF the
palace of Hazar Asp. 1t was only aDouI 80 by so
feet and the southern side was entirely taken up
by the great hall Of state, which Is simply hign
p0rtico, opening into the court OF the north
Around this court are disposed the different rooms
Of the palace, the harem and stables. General
Kaufman received here the chief dlgnitaries and
mOolahs OF the place, who came to ask II every
body would be killed or only part. He tOlu them
that II they quietly submitted, without resistance
their lives, property and women would be re-
spected; that he had not come to conquer Khfva,
communications with every mark of satisfaction
and then withdrew, after which we proceeded 10
breakfast Thus Hazar-Asp, really stronger
place than Khiva, surrendered without striking q
blow Most OF the officers, and the Grand Dukes
especially, were dissatisfied that there had been
Gghtng but they consoled themselves with the hope
that desperate resistance would be made at Khiva
After resting couple Of hours Kaufman left a
small garrison in Hazar-Asp and marched about
gardens in order to wait for the rest OF the de-
tachment to come up before making the final at
AN ASIAN VILLAGE.
Hazar-Asp is place OF about 5000 inhabitants
mpd built and almost entirely enclosed in the
walls Of the fortress, which is OF an irregular
rectangular shape, to which has been added .
kind OF wing addition, and Is nearly surrounded
BY WIDE but shallow ditch. 1t is about 10 miles
nom the Oxus and 40 from Khiva. Some five or
six cannons and laconettes mounted on wheels, as
abandoned by the nying troops OF the Khan,
which, Of course, fell into Kaufmann's hands. We
lay encamped between HaZar-Asp and the river
three days, during which time the rest Of the
detachment was coming up. and General Kauf-
enough to replace the camels sent back from the
river to AltKoodook and Khala-ata. During this
time letters came nom verevkine, stating that
he was pushing rapidly forward and would reach
Khlva the eth or 10th OF June Kaufman therefore
determined TO resume his march on the sth, which
ADVANCING ON KHTvA.
On the afternoon of the 9th we ref ched point
about 10 miles from Khtva and encamped near q
little lakes All the way along the road the people
had come to meet US in groups Of 20 and 80, offer
ing their submission and presenting bread,
aprc0ts and sometimes lamb or sheep or a calf
as peace offering. Toward evening a cousin OF
that the detachment from Orenburg had that day
attacked the town and had been repulsed that
the bombardment might cease. as he was ready to
surrender upon any terms Kaufmann might dictate
OvERTURES FROM THE KHAN.
It may be well to state that Kaufman had re-
ceived messages from the Khan three or four times
since his ival upon the river in which the latter
continually asked why the Russians were attack
ing him, as he had done nothing to offend them
and telling them they ought to go back and leave
throw himself on General Kaufmann's mercy and
surrender at discretion. Kaufman Immediately
Sens despa.cn sa tn 70 @ oraerhg
Khan that II he was in earnest he should come out
next morning with 100 followers and meet him on
be made known to him. This letter was sent back
with the messenger who mad brought the Khan's
everywhere among our detachment at this news
To have come so far, to have suffered SO many
d ~ sae tns nUpe o1 havng ngnI ana rd aden
degree Of discontent and depression, not to say
disgust, only to be understood by military man
1t would be hard to make the Khan fight, how
ever. II he did not want TO, and SO there was only
one hope left. That was, that the surrender was
only ruse on his part to throw the Russians of
their guard and take them Dv surprise-a ruse
which had been practised upon them once before
and which had succeeded SO well that only one or
two escaped to tell the tale. The next morning at
sunrise we were again in the saddle, on the march,
but the widest rumOrs were afoat about what had
passed at Khiva during the night.
A CANARD,
The inhabitants, who came nocking to meet us
IN great numbers with their peace offerings, in
formed US that the Khan had been driven out by
the enraged inhabitants when they knew of his
meditated surrender, his brother chosen In his
place. and they were going to resist q OsttrGsace.
II was another 4th Of September, in short, ar
ranged after the latest French style well as we
could make out, and 1t was even said that Roche
fort and Cluseret had arrived aud declared the
Commune. Upon tracing the latter part Of this
story to its source, however found 1t had origi-
mated with the Grand Duke Nicholas, VINO re-
counted 1t with the gravest face imaginable. The
Joy expressed throughout the detachment at the
prospect OF fight was unbounded, but 1t was soon
clouded. About three miles from Khiva we were
met by delegation headed Dy Said Emir Ool-
Oomar, the OLD uncle OF the Khan before mentioned,
Governor OF Hazar-Asp. He came to surrender the
town and informed General Kaufman that the
tngteal heinn driVan hu ha