New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE MERv OASIS.

I H90,o%p OD0NYvAN LNge octave. vols PIP
/ O02 G. l. Pdtnam's Sous.
Mr. / r. Robinson To whom these new V"iuules
ON Central Asia are dedicated, is the accepted
,,,,rou of special correspondents His position as
,,ciug editor of one of the most prosperous
London journals enables him to give substantial
,,cou,aceuent to restless knights of the pen MT
.;pg over the face of the earth in guest Oh nc"
scenes and fresh experiences. But he mas SONIC
,binc besides opportunities for making the reeiIaiS
of daring adventure or systematic eNpior"'lo" i0
imperative ~ the special correspondents no "''
tbe faculty of original suggestion accompanied "S
nm accurate Judgment of the requirements VI ',i0
ENGLISH pubc Uo knows when anu ""o'o :"
oive direction to the energies OF literary "o4""'"
auces who appeal 10 him for serious e'hp'oS ~
1vhor.in they may have 4 fair chance OIL C'sl'is"''
inr themselves and making a uscln' commune"
49, Ct ,l.ce to the current news Of the day, aAd
,.aa,,o,,I,, +, t,e literature Of foreign travel
Tbe intrepid and versatile Iusnman whose adVeh-
,,ros aud ohscr, ations in q quarter OF the woito
,ovcr before described 6y a European arc re-
,o,rtcd in these volumes. acknowledges his lhoeo'-
odne.s to his patror not only for scl"to rs support
ut for the original plan Of the undertaking. 30
frank an admission OF personal obligation IS an IL
lustraton of the amenities OF journalism "A'0H -
+ pleasant to record ...o
Mr. ODonovau's journey was uuiert2"eh "' .I
onenlnc of tho Afghan campaign, when 'he Ens ~ d"
nublic mind was occupied by tho Danger" 20 nv"
India nght be expose in the near iutHro I'"" ,'''
pxiension of Russian sway over INC hom"u
tion of Central Asia east of the Caspian ana iron
80. and alliances with the Persian Court and
tho frontier tribes north of HcIat. IDe starting
roint for His waudcrngs during three years was
Trebjzond. OIL the Black Sea. whence he set OUT IN
1,ehruorr 1870 Tor RatOum T1S aud Haku' OIL
the western shore OF the Caspian. Arriving a. tue
coal Of his journey through RUSSIAN Trans O"u
cosia. and learning that General Lalaleh WAS
obout TO start for the camp OF Tchlksl7r, t!e ln'5
diet, base OF operations Of tho eNpcdiuonHFy cU!-
unns destined for service against the AkIM iVNN'
Tur,nnaus he received permission to accompany
tbe staff in is voyage across the Caspian. h9 VS.
,;ed Chat1e. when was then the Advanced posi- Oh
the Enssilns on the At;rek. and subsequently s'''
uorthward TO kyasnayodsk, the settlement A'a'
which the newly constructed Trans caspian h'"'
,oolL,sits western terminus. After many inter
estine experiences in :he settlements on tHe lust
cru CASPIAN litto1al lie received orders from 'ne
nv, commaud.r-in-chicl, General TergnAasoi 10
,otr,n IN Kqln and pass the winter there lie Ge-
.ar,ni,ed 10 travel southwark to the Persian lroh-
,ier aud 10 take refuge in Astcrabad. ms was III
NovrmDer 1879, and Ire remained thele anu At d
Fortified camp on tho frontier several months nh'I
he was emboldeued by the resignation 81 genera
TerrukasoA TO try his fortunes again at The hHS'
sian headuuarters His advances were repuise"
onl he was forced to return TO Ast"r3'al. nero lie
,esolycd TO proceed 10 Tcheran by way OF Eh-eil' /"
Persian post on tie southern base OF the O"SP'H''
o.,5 IN make final attempt to accompany the
pnssiop cvn,dition in the Akh1l Tekk5 country;
and if permission should be refused. to put forth
dceru,ipcd effort to penetrate into that district be
+hc DANGER what Il might. or should the Russians
Dove arrived there before him, to push on 10 MerN
its,If This plan involved long journey overland
~ the frontier of the Akhal Iekkts north Of
Mnsbel and he finally succeeded in reaching Aska-
I'D q settlemcot not far from GeOh Tep6, tie
,,roupto,d of Tie TurcCman tribes. WITH DIS Hc!d
class he was able to witness Skohclefs great We
tory in January, l8s l. and Jhe light OF the AAhal
TckkEs after the battle. AsGabad being an unsafe
hating place while the Cossacks were securing the
Iain be resolved to proceed in haste to Merv that
mysterious city, Of which EuroI cans then knew
next TO nothns His enforced residence among tho
Merry Turcomans for five months is the central
+hoe of this record OF perilous adventure, and with
.he successful issue of the negotiations for bis re
lease his account of his wanderings is brought to
close.
Mr.. ODonoyan's narrative IS cnlvened at every
sove of his Journey with Illustrative anecdotes ana
nersonal incidents and the extraordinary circum-
stances under which he entered Mery lend ADVENT
tous AID to the recital. His powers OF observation
ore keen his material las been collected with
iaLorious effort and painstakng accuracy, ana MS
style is natural and direct if not always graceful Ut
incie,ve. it is Disappointing TO ma that with
marked advantages of personal experience and with
literary habits thoroughly formed IN one of the
hest schools of English journalism he has succeeded
in making only a moderately interesting book.
Two Americans. Mr. Schuyler and Mr.. MacGahan,
bavo written less In detail but with far greater
mower. of the strange races inhabitng Central
Asia. Their pictures of lie and warfare IN the
deserts are graphic than any which these pages
brlpg before the eye and while their personal eE
periences are tame in comparison with Mr.. y Douo-
vans adventures their general reflections upon the
nbvsical features Of the Eastern world the anarchc
state of the tribes and the political relations OF
ncighbUriug races are more comprehensive ahG VAL
uable Mr.. ODonovan seems to have been almost
too Industrious diarst. At all times and under
all circumstances he busted himself with taking
notes IN order to reproduce and impressions
with Photographic accuracy. In fact, he was so
constantly employed in the labouoHs process OF col
lectng details that he had very little leisure for re-
facing upon what was passing under Bis eyes and
bcinc transferred nstantaucousy to lis notebook.
One of the authors most effective passages is the
acconnt which he gives of his first glimpse Of do.
nestle life in the Turcoman villages. He had been
invited by the Russian commander To leave the
camp and return to the western shore OF the Cas-
plan, but had resolved to establish himself on the
Persian frontier where he could receive infcrma-
ton Of any military preparations that might DO
made Hating after the first days ride he discoy-
cred that he had neglected to provide himself with
q passport, and while waiting to receive one from
the Russian commander he lodged with Turco-
man family:
tha ayfi iIv rtafN nd
female dwell under the one roof, which covers hut
n single circular apartment, not more than fifteen
fee: IN diameter As entered, they told me that |
yyas khOsi gcidi (welcouie and / took my seat a
cnrnct neslde the re INNING in the contre OF tho