The New York herald., 1873-11-29

he simply run away and betaKe himself to the
desert We had no means OF deciding this ques-
tion, and could only conjecture as TO what his
future line OF action would be. That night, about
twelve O'Clock. when everybody had gone TO sleep,
we were suddenly awakened by the reveiile.
Springing to our feet in the half belief that the
enemy were making night attack. we found thas
1t was not the Khivans, but the water. that was
advancing upon us. The old Oxus. angry, per-
haps, at this unusual attempt to cross him, had
suddenly commenced rising since dark, A.
though hoping TO catch us mapping, and
had risen about six feet in tho course
OF three hours, threatening tOdr0wn US out. The
order was given to decanp ana move to higher
ground, which order was obeyed in confusion. My
comrade aud got separated from our servants
and baggages in the darkness and were unable TO
find them-a misfortune which was not lightened
by our being obliged to swim our horses over
canal along with camels and Cossacks in order to
reach safe ground. In the execution OF which
movement we got wet to the skin. As 1t was i'm
possible to find anybody we had nothing to do but
throw ourselves on the damp grass. with our sad
die blankets for q cover, and wait until daylight
THE RIVER RIsEs
The next morning the entire aspect OF affairs had
changed. The Oxus was so wide and the current
SO rapid that Kaufmann was obliged to change his
mile. This was effected and the passage continued
without interruption, bur much more slowly than
the day before. 1t now required fully three hours
for boat to make the round trip. The horses
swan over for the most part. and nearly all the
camels were sent back for the detachments Of
Alti-K oodook and Khaa-ata. l crossed with Gen.
eral Kaufman and his star on the 1st
OF June. We found the fort Of Sheik-Arik
very small-indeed, the fort, properly speak
ing was not more than 30 feet IN diameter,
and was mere toy house, so utterly insignificant
was 1t as a place of defence. The situation, how
ever, was capable of very formidable defence If
the troops OF the Khan had known how to defend
it. Sheik-Arlk, as its name indicates, is a canal,
now dry but which formerly received and con-
Quoted water from the river into the interior OF
the khanate, and may do yet, when the river
is high. Its banks were from 20 to 80 feet
high, running for q short distance almost parallel
10 the river, and forming an excellent delence-an
earthwork of formidable dimensions. The six
pound shells OF the Russians might have exploded
here long time before making any impression ON
the solid banks of EARTH The utter ignorance Of
the Khivans OF military matters was most strlk-
ingly shown in the construction Of the little mud
fort on the summit OF one OF these banks. whose
walls were so thin that the Russian shells went
through them like cardboard only remarked on
this afterwards, for upon setting foot on shore my
comrade and made q rush for the bazaar, which
had been opened that day for the first time by the
Knivans, in response to a friendly proclamation oi
General Kaufman. We had had nothing to eat
for thirtysix hours not even the dried black bread
OF the soldiers, and we had been subsisting
on tea and q little joogerie, kind OF plant
very much resembling the American broom corn.
Now fasting for SO hours under ordinary circum-
stances when you are in good condition, physically
speaking, is a matter OF no consequence at all.
But when You have been on short nations for a
month, during which time you have consumed
your supernuous store OF fat, it becomes very
serious matter indeed. We made rush. then for
the bazaar, market, as 1t might more properly be
called. The Khivans had responded to Kaufmann's
proclamation with cart loads OF nour, fruit, chick
ems, sheep, fresh wheaton hot cakes and hot
apricots rice sugar tea great quantities OF white
mulberres, and clover and oogerie tor the horses.
They had drawn up their great numbering wooden
| carts just outside the camp and were now sur.
rounded by the Russian soldiers, with whom they
seemed to be on excellent terms. few OF the
soldiers spoke Tartar or Kirgheez, but those who
could not managed to get on somehow by signs,
and the most lively exchange was going on be-
tween them when we arrived upon the scene.
The Russians were paying, as l observed, triple
and quadrupe prices without hesitation Where
they got the money do not know and cannot
guess to this day. but the fact is they all seemed
to have money to spend 1t is true. many OF those
Isaw were servants OF the officers, but by lar the
greater number were the common soldiers.
MARKETS OPENED.
NY friend and bought hurriedy several pounds
OF nour, sheep, cali, quantity OF warm
bread, some Bokharian honey, apricots and mulber-
rtac r,rb avtcf In Ioo N
never doubling for moment but We would eat it
all the same day. We were so hungry that we were
not even then quite satisfied that we had enough
to supply our present wants. The Khvans who
brought us these things were the "Usbegs," OF the
environs, and. having satisfied my craving Of hum
ger by two or three wheaton cakes and q little
honey, commenced examining the strange people
before me with great curiosity.
THE KHIvAN PEASANTS.
They were generally medium-sized. lean, muscu-
lar fellows, with something OF sinister cast OF
countenance and long black boards. Their cos.
tune consisted OF white-or what was once
white-cotton shirt and loose pants OF the same
material, over which was worn a 'khalat,v q Kind
OF long robe, cut straight and reaching to the
heels. Most OF them we're barefooted, and wore on
their heads a tall, heavy, black sheepsxin cap,
weighing fully six or seven pounds. The khala
OF the Khivans is very ugly OF dirty brown and
yellow, disposed in narrow stripes entirely unlike
the beautiful khalat OF the Boxharans, with its
brilliant coors. Altogether the costume OF the
Khvans is. think the ugiest and most incon-
venient have ever seen. The heavy sheepskin
cap alone Is enough to destroy the intelligent
working OF the most active brain, ana / no
longer wondered at the backward state Of their
civilization upon seeing their monstrous hats.
The khalat, besides being hdeously ugly il most
inconvent and although generally wadded with
cotton and very warm. Is never taken on, appar-
emily, during the hottest days, not when their
owners are performing manual labor. They were
very friendly, seemingly, and, so far from being
afraid Of their conquerors, did not hesitate, as
before remarked, to ask triple and quadrupc
prices for everything they sold. They had at first,
Thought the Russians would simply take what they
wanted without pay, not even excepting their
wives-a very natural proceeding, according to
their ideas, and one which they themselves would