The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-22
AMEERS OF KHIVA And DOKHARA
How the Vice Emperor of
Turkestan Lives.
GENERAL RASGONOFF'S CAPTIVITY
Interview with Shere Ais Ambassadors
to General Kaufman.
TAsHKEND, Jan. 10, 1879.

TAsHxESD, Jan. 10. 1879.
General Kaufman is one of those men whose per-
sonality will stand out all the more prominently in the
future from the agitation and trouble through which
the whole of the Northern Hemisphere has passed
during the last quarter of century. From the time
of Peter the Great. who in 1877 the first to send
military expedition to Asia. no military commander
has succeeded in arriving at the results accomplished
by the present Governor of Turkestan The great
aim of Russia it cannot be denied. is to obtain pos
session Of India and the lieutenant Of the Emperor
Alexander has led his troops to its very limits.
Another step in advance will bring the British lion
and the Russian bear into collision. This step Gen.
eral Kaufman prepared TO take from the
mencenent of 1873, and his soldiers animated
by the same feeling of eagerness and enthusiasm
when the word was given to approach the frontiers OF
ghanistan. where the great military drama about
to develope its opening Who knows where
events might have led them if the Car had not finally
receded and abandoned the Aghans the soldiers Of
the Empress OF India? The result might have been
very different IL instead Of encountering the malcon
tent and dsunited battalions of the Ameer. Shere Ali
Khan. the English soldiers had been met by the
$4,000 Russian troops OF Turkestan. which are
tainy quite good not better than the soldiers of
the guard at st. Petersburg. But it is useless to
speculate further this point at present. &c nest
que partie rensise To return to my narrative. I
reached Tashkend on the 30th Of December, the day
previous to that on which the Afghan Ambassadors,
who had been there for about three months. to
take leave Of the Governor General of Turkestan.
The day after my arrival I was shown into
the study of General Kaufman. found him seated
in an armchair. suffering from boil his left leg,
which compelled him to sustain himself with stick
in walking. The proverb says that you must not
judge man by his coat. but there is proverb
which forbids comparing the morale of functionary
with his surroundings. This reserve wise for
need not be very keen observer to judge Of work
by his box Of toolsthat is to say the function
airy in the midst of his labors. During the steps
that had to make in crossing the Generals Office
took rapid glance at the ensemble which for the rst
time presented itself to my view
GENERAL KAUFMANN's STUDY.
The bureau, or Office of the Governor General con-
sists OF large room, or, rather Of two rooms
united. and which are separated merely by arch
way. In the outer space is the entrance. 1t commu-
ncates with the ante-chamber near the only window
which Lights this part Of the bureau and which
the door that leads to the private apartments This
FIRST space offers nothing remarkable with the
exception of small table. ON which lie
tho three uniform caps worn by the GEN.
eral. according to the state Of the weather.
The visitor diagonally this Arst bureau.
passes under the archway which reaches within q
foot Of the ceiling and before arriving the
of the General the whole of the interior is revealed
to him by strong light proceeding from four win
dows two facing the General and the others situated
on his left. The furniture is very simple The walls
are covered with paper Of gray and chocolate tints
with pattern Of vertical stripes about four inches
In width. wide green border running along the
ceiling and the panelling with ornamental corners
constitutes the frame work of the four walls and of
the archway and chimney. Between the windows
are portraits principally the imperial family They
are all photographs. and one Of them represents
seated at the table of his wife who is occupied with
needle work. His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke
Nicholas. who during the last commanded the
Russian forces In Turkey. For four years General
Kaufman chief Of the staff to the Emperor
brother All these portraits have simple gold frames
without ornamentation. There is carpet on the two
connecting rooms. which measure about thirty feet
long by twenty feet wide. With the exception of two
sofas placed in the and the armchair of the
Generals bureau all the other seats simply of cane
work with round backs. Before one Of the windows
In front Of the General stands table supporting un-
der glass cover with six sides the model Of small
mountain gun. mortar. The model, which is very
correctly designed. made in the foundry Of tho
artillery arsenal at Tashkend Behind the General is
the chimney piece. which is painted white. and in
which the General is protected by couple of
screens. The writing table, which occupies the
middle OF the room offers to the view m useum of
pens. pencils. penknives. magnifying glasses, &C..
Every article has its place like every soldier in the
ranks large inkstand occupies the centre of the
table and behind this are several small gilt frames
containing more photographs. On the Generals left
Is small travelling clock which strikes the time
every half hour. Behind this table is seated the sol
der who. since 1867. has been advancing with an iron
will toward an object which European Cabinet
has defined though no one is ignorant of it.
ZEN PICTURE OF TIE GENERAL.
The Governor General OF rurkestan, General Kauf-
Manu. or rather Won Kaufmann. is q man of about
sixty years of age of middle height aud youthful still
in gait though measured in his movements He
exhibits more the air of diplomat than of a
soldier but it is not difficult to that at the rst
cannon shot the soldier would resume the upper
hand The cares and preoccupatons Of his govern
ment have caused him to absent himself from tho
barracks and from the soldiers. whom no loves; but
notw outstanding this. his socitude for them Ia az
great He is never far distant from them
and those who supply his place maintain his army at
the point Of perfection to which he brought It; but
never in times of peace has General Kaufman
been what is called barrack officer. He is pre-
eminently the soldier of tho battle field. who.
as soon rs war commences. attaches himself
to his troops and never quits them, living their
life. amusing himself with their marching songs and
sharing without measure the glory won with those
who have helped to conquer IL. For the last eleven
years at fifteen days carriage ride from the last Euro
pcan railway station. General Kaufman has lived in
relative state of isolation. receiving for his only
compense the occasional testimony Of the friendship
and confidence of his Imperial Master. who has
fcrred upon him the highest military rank in his
power TO bcstow- that of Governor General. This
title is equal to that OF viccroy which the English
government gives to his ncighbor OF India. There
even at one time project for establishing rea-
lions between those Asatic vice sovereiens. After
some steps had beon taken the government of Queen
Victoria abandoned tho idea from approhension. a
said of the superior abilities Of the Russian Gov.
ernor.
his IMpKRIAL SURROUNDINGS.
Throughout the whole extent OF his Jurisdiction
General Kaufman maintains sovereign attributes
An imperial flag always floats over his reside nce and