The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-06-06
The Bridge of Tiri.

Now that war has been declared be-
tween the Khan of Khiva and Russia,
and that the latter power, according to
the emphatic declarations of the official
organ of the czar, the st. Petersburg
GOLOS, Will make a desperate effort to
subiugate Khiva, so long the goal of
Muscovite ambition, the celebrated
ridge of Tiri, in that country, which
has so often borne a conspicuous part
in the terrible political commissions of
Central Asia, will undoubtedly become
again the scene of a sanguinary and de-
cisive struggle in the impending cam
paign. In effect, if the troops of the
czar succeed in forcing u passage across
the deep and rapid Baghrettee River at
Tiri, Khiva is virtually at their mercy,
and the complete subiugation of the
country is only a question of time.
For, after the Russian army of invasion
has crossed the northern frontier Of
Khiva, it has to march for three or four
days through level and arid country,
whose very coDfguration renders it
well-nigh impossible for the forces of
the Khan to oppose any effective resist
ance to the invaders, who are well pro-
vided with light artillery, and accompa-
MED by some of the best regiments of
Cossacks.
But, at the end of that time, the Rus
SLAMS will reach the great Khivan noun
tain-chain, which surrounds the khanate
like an immense wall, and through
which access to the interior of the coun-
try is afforded only by the so-called
Gorge of Death. Well does it deserve
- E. 81, fT,
their death have passed hundreds of
thousands of warriors since history has
recorded the terrible struggles which,
in the course of the centuries, have
taken place in Central Asia.
This Gorge Of Death, at its opening,
is several hundred yards wide; but it
narrows rapidly, and, at its outlet, IS
hardly broad enough for the egress of a
heavy wagon. 1t is, as it were, the
Thermopyl8 of Khiva; and, when the
invaders have penetrated thus far, there
opens before them landscape of truly
sublime beauty. A river, of irregular
width, but of transparent blue water,
now rapid, now as smooth as a mirror,
flows between rugged, rocky banks of
the most curious and Imposing configu-
ration. A frail bridge, made of reed
grass, and swaying to and fro whenever
anybody sets foot upon it, spans it at
the very spot opposite the narrow outlet
of the Gorge of Death, and leads, on
the southern bank of the river, to the
Kuet Celia, that is to say, the Gorge of
Life. The valley of the river is one of
the finest on earth. 1t is hemmed in
by immense mountain-masses, covered
with perpetual snow, and hardly infe-
rior in majestic beauty to those of the
great Himalaya range. A small village
named Tiri, nestles on the southern
bank of the river. The latter IS called
Baghrettee, that is to say, the River of
Blood. It is doubtful if there is any
where another stream so well entitled
to this terrible name. The people of
Tiri look upon it with the utmost awe.
They say that its waters are poisonous.
They believe that to bathe in it is fatal,
and that Ahriman, the god of evil, to
whom the Baghrettee is sacred, will
visit with his wrath those who would be
audacious- enough to catch fish in it..
They draw their water exclusively from
the few scanty wells in the mountains.
| They think that no enemy of theirs will
| ever be allowed to cross the river with
a hostile purpose.
The only general who ever did it was
| the great and terrible Tamerlane. But,
before he accomplished the task, and
overcame the desperate resistance OF
the opposing army, he had to sacrifice
over ter thousand of his best warriors.
Among them was young Teng- Deel, the
betrothed of Tamerlane's youngest
daughter, Syskilve. When the latter,
who accompanied her father during his
campaigns, heard of the death of Teng-
Deei, she rushed in despair to the river
bank, and threw herself into the depth.
This event produced terrible impress.
sion upon Tamerlane, and, in his wrath,
he ordered the prisoners who had fallen
into his hands to be massacred. The
traditions of Tiri say that so large was
the number of the slain prisoners, whose
! corpses were thrown into the Baghret