The New York herald., 1873-11-14

not approve. Inueou, tuey cApEcSseu tneinsciNcs
TO that enect at last, and In no very measured
terms either. The Russian officers combine
very severe discipline with good deal Of freedom
OF speech. and was not little astonishcd to hear
the term canatUe dAUenldnd applied to Colonel
weimarn without the slightest conjunction. We
were soon on the best Of terms, and alter having
made 8 square meal" for the first time
for several days, was conducted to
the kobitka OF Colonel Iyanon, the onicer
who had been wounded In the affair OF ADAM
Ko0rigan, already spoken OF. When he learned
that haa no tent he Immediately made room for
me In his kobitka and offered me his hospitality
while should remain In Khala-ata. accepted, OF
course, and as the Colonel was on the sick list,
and had the best OF everything that was TO be had.
| could not have fallen into better hands. Twas
treated not only by him but by the rest OF the lie
tie party here with kindness l shall not easily
forget the more especially as stood sadly in need
or hospitality ana that, judging by the conduct OF
their superior, they might well have supposed
was an English agent on nv way to encourage the
Khan to resistance. But was an American, and,
as had hitherto found among Russians, my pass
port was a sunicient letter OF recommendation.
The next day was passed idly In the kobltka Of
Colonel Ivan06. In attempting TO get little re-
pose after my long ride, In which endeav0r sue
ceeded but inditrerently, owing to the heat and
word that he would march at two O'Clock next
morning, aud that II wished to send in my letters
| to him could do 80. After some reflection de-
| cided to send one OF my letters with him, but
nevertheless, to attempt escaping from the camp
| with the marching column. My plan was to march
out OF camp with the column, trusting to the dark
to escape detection, leave 1t, make wide cir
| cult reach Adam Koorlgan before it, take water
there. aud continue my way. This, thought,
| would be easily done once out OF the camp, as
| could march at least twice as last as the troops
l accordingly handed over one OF my letters to
Colonel weimarn to be delivered to General Kauf-
| mann, and gave my people orders TO be ready to
| march at two O'Clock.
| There were still the Turcomans to be dealt with; ;
but had to choose between that danger and the
alternative Of falling to accomplish the object Of
| my mission, and 1 chose the former trusting to
| the proverbial good luck OF HERALD correspond
ent for breaking through the enemy's lines with
lmpunity. Had carried out this plan at this time
would inevitably have fallen into the hands OF
the Turcomans, under Sadik, famous brigand in
the service of the Khan who. with 500 or 600 horse
men, were careering around Kaufmann's army, and
who just about this time made bold and DASH
ing attack on Kaufmann's camels at Adam. Koorl-
gan. At midnight, however. when we were ready
to start orders came from Kaufman not to
march. 1t appeared that he had not reached the
Amoo, as had been supposed; but whether he was
at Adam-Koorgan, or some point further on,
could not make out, as all were extremely
reticent on the subject, pretending they did not
know. l gathered enough. however from scraps
OF conversation overheard to make 1t pretty evi.
dent that something very nearly approaching q
disaster had occurred
IN SEARCH OF A COLONEL.
This changed the aspect OF affairs. II Kaufman
liberate on the best means OF overtaking him. AS
Colonel Wemarn would not march for three or four
days, l concluded that had better wait also, the
more especially as 1t would have been very difacult
to escape without the confusion attendant upon
the night start OF detachment
therefore remained at Khala- ata. the guest Of
the kindhearted Colonel Ivanon.
LIFE ON THE PLAINS
Life at Khalaata found was not thing to be
desired, even under the most favorable crcum-
stances. Heat OF the most oppressive kind through
out the day varied by gusts OF wind that filed and
darkened the atmosphere and even hid the sun it.
self with clouds OF Dust that was almost suiIo-
eating. 1t went everywhere. tent or kobitka
was not the slightest protection. Once inside, It
gently settled down over everything, filing eyes.
mouth and nostrils, clingng hair, eyelashes and
| clothing, until we were the color of the earth.
We found 1t In the bottom OF our soup plates
| where 1t had accumulated In the very short space
| OF time devoted to the discussion OF q plate OF
soup, and when attempted to write up my journal
my pencil went gritting through the sand that was
continually drifting over the paper In way that
set my teeth on edge. Besides there was not the
slightest scrap OF anything to read except few
newspapers which 1 had read before leaving St.
Petersburg Nothing to do but lie on ones back
all day long and watch the heated atmosphere
trembling in misty undulatlons beneath the glow.
ing sun, or e storms Of dust that from time to
time came sweeping over Us, darkening the air
like thunder cloud; listen to the singing OF
the soldiers which could be heard all
day long, IN spite Of the fact that the poor fellows
had nearly nothing to eat and no vodka to drink.
and heap imprecatons not loud but deep, on the
| head OF Colonel Weimarn. Poor felow Even II
| had not outwitted him in the end could forgive
him now. He was thrown from his horse In the
gardens OF Khiva, and so badly hurt that he died
| in few hours, without having caught one glimpse
| OF the far. famed city.
Khala-ata Is situated on Bokhuriun territory.
and was occupied with the permission OF the Emir.
who consented, at the same time, TO the construc-
tion Of the little fort The fort is about fifty Yards
square, and consists OF a simple earthwork. two
corner bastlons and ditch that may be nlled with
water. 1t is defended by two brass ned pieces.
and, although constructed IN two days. Is sun,
ciently strong to resist any attack that NAV be
made upon 1t. There is some reason to believe
that this was a town or considerable Importance
| at one time OF Central Asian history. When ths
Russians arrived there were still remains OF stone
walls to be seen, which they quickly utilized, how
ever, in the construction OF the fort and myself
picked up piece OF carved stone that bore eyery
appearance OF having been the capital or a pillar.
Not inappropriately this palace has been turned
into a graveyard by the Kirghese. Mud tombs and
monuments replace lofty domes and mlnarets
and the dead city has literally become a city OF the
| dead.
CASE OF GENERAL De BELLEMaRE.
The Fate OF . Soldier Who Thought .