The New York herald., 1873-11-22
KETVA--NO. 3.
CAMP LIFE ON THE DESERT.
THE OXUs Reached AT LAST.

KHIvA, August q, 1873.
While Kaufman was lying at Alti Koodook, or
STRUGGLING forward over the desert between that
point and the Oxus-a route which vambery, who
had passed over the road some eight years ago,
had pronounced impossble-l had been langulsh-
ing AT Khala-ata When arrived at Aiti Koodook
he had been gone, as soon learned, six days. It
was still early in the morning when rode into
the camp; none OF The officers were stirring. sat
down on heap or baggage near, wondering what
sort OF reception was preparing for me, and not
without inward mssivings on the subject. had
not long to wait. / had only been seated few
minutes when young officer, hall dressed, stuck
his head out OF tent near by and bawied OUT
''Que didble Jaites-rOus Ia? EntreS donc."
"wHAr THE DEVIL ARE YOU DOING TIIERES COME IN ~
This was promising invitation, and entered
accordingly with a weight taken on my mind.
The young officer IN question was one had met
once at Khala-ata but whose face had forgotten.
He had lett the day after my arrival, had joined
Kaufman here and then had the misfortune to be
leit behind. He Immediately ordered tea and
offered me little dried beef and biscuit, OF which
partook ravenously Tor ! had neither eaten nor
drunk for "a hours. 1t was all he mad to offer me,
and this was his last BIT OF bee, but he gave it
with such hearty goodwill that had no hesitation
In making away with the whole Of 1t, and the
daintiest morsel ever l tasted at Bignon's or We
fOur's was not to be compared 10 1t. He informed
me now that Kauima mn had been gone six days and
must be now on the Amoo If he had not
already crossed it, but that tney had heard
nothing from him since his departure. They
were IN hopes Of receiving orders to march
every day, and the cames TO be sent back
would soon commence arriving; but that was all
AS to the road, 1t was very dangerous, probably
In ested by maraudng parties OF rurc0mans who
would be harassing the rear guard, ana ne would
not ADVISE me TO attempt it alone. They would
probably receive orders III day or two to move
forward, and could go with them. l had already
decided, however, that would risk more delays
especially as 1t was just possible taat would be
sent Tor, and / concluded that there was more
danger in waiting than in pushing forward.
decided. however, to stay day here In order
10 rest my horses after their long march of the day
before, and to proceed on the morrow. AS was
very tired and sleepy they prepared bed for me,
and lay down to take an hours nap.
When awoke l lay ior a lew moments with
my eyes half closed, trying to make out where
] was. The tent in which found myself was lined
inside with stun combining the most brilliant
cOOrs and worked or cut in the most fantastic
shapes, such as had never seen before. The tent,
as afterwards learned, was one OF several the
Emir had presented to General Kaufman, which
accounted for Its strange appearance; but while
was lying half awake trying TO make it out soRle-
how associa;ng it with some weird tale from the
"Arabian Nights,'I was aroused from my state OF
semi-somnoence by hearing the question in very
good English, "Well, how do you ieel after your
napfn
HOME IN THE DESERT
Hooked around and found myself surrounded by
eight or ten officers, who were only waiting lor me
to awake to ofer me welcome and the freedom Of
Att Kcodook. We were friends in a moment.
They invited me to breakfast, but had to club to-
gether in order to find provisions where
with to make breakfast. One furnished
block Of dried vegetables another y can
Of Liebigs extract OF meat, another piece
OF mutton, another some biscuit another coffee,
another preserved milk, and still another bottle
OF UadEa. This was about all the variety that
could be found in the camp; but their welcome was
30 cordial and their hospitality SO generous and
their ways frank and jolly, they appeared to be
SO glad to see me and SO anxious to do me q kind
ness, and that, too, when needed 1t most, that
was not little moved; and think now, as
thought then that there were never better fellows
in the world. They were terribly low spirited, too,
ON account OF their being left behind, with every
probability OF their not reaching Khiva in time to
take part in its capture. But they threw on dun
care for the moment. and we were as merry over
our solitary bottle OF rGdkd as II it had been
a song they had adapted to the place,
commencing I'm dem Aiti Koodook. da ist mein
vaterland,n to their great satisfaction. Best OF
ALL they gave me all the barley / wanted for my
horses, for matters had arrived at sucn point
that the success or failure Of my undertaking, and
perhaps my own life, depended upon bushel Of
barley. Istayed here all day, picking up whatever
information could, writing up my journal, and
seeing that my horses were well fed and watered,
In preparation for their last forced march, as /
hoped il would be.
THE CHILD OF THE REGIMENT.
I was very much surprised during the day to
hear the Growing Of q cock, and TO learn that he
had made the whole distance comfortably percned
on the back OF a camel. He had been originally
destined for the table, but he had shown such
pugnacious disposition, Offering to fight the
soldier who was proceeding to wiring his
neck, that the soldiers unanimously de-
cided he shoald not be Killed. This disposition
had been cultivated in him to such an extent that
he would give the road TO neither man nor beast
without q eight, and actually saw him attack and
put to flight dog in the most daring and resclute
manner.
The water at Alti Koodook found TO be tolerably
good and in sufficient quantities, but had never
theless to obtain permit in order TO get any for
my horses, the regulations adopted during the first
tevs when water was scarce being still In force.
The iiext day, toward noon, I was in tho saddle
...nu !. k ISL "a fL> nS..1 - :, ,,,s ~s;.
agWD, on tne r0au ~ MY klnu euteT-
faners pressed me to stay another day in order to
rest and feed my horses, which were BADLY enough
In need Of 1t. ! was obliged TO leave one OF them,
which was completely Knocked up behind, and to
proceed without any horse for my baggage, divd-
ing It among the four we were riding But felt
100 uneasy TO remain longer. had presentiment
that some danger was impending, and that had
better get forward as fast az possible.
HOW WAS NOT ARRESTED.
My presentlment, as afterwards found out, was
not q false one. Soon after arrived at Khva
learned that had left Alti Koodook only few
hours when an officer. at the head OF 20 Cossacks,
arrived breathess, with an order TO arrest, disarm
ana take me back to Tashkend prisoner. He had