Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-11
TURNED BACK.
ADVENTURES OF THOMAS STEVENS
AND HIS WHEEL.
In the Hands Of the Afghans for Nineteen
pays-The Question Of HIS
Future Programme.


Future Programme.
Thomas S.tvens writes from Meshed'
Persis, to the Boston Herald: mnen
] dated my last letter from Msshsa'
about five weeks ago, little expected to
be writing you another one here to-day.
Irather expected to find myself IN the
neiebboIhood Of Delhi. Since writing
YOU last my experience has been
stranger than fiction. 1t has lett no,
thing 10 be desired as regards novel and
interesting adventures; but 1t nas
ended in the unsatisfactory experience
of beirg landed Just where ! was live
weeks ago, and in very difficult corner
of the world from which to get
where | want 70. | have been
prisoner in the hands OF the
Afghans for nineteen days. | told you
in my last OF the Russians refusing me
the road through Tnrkestan, at'er Gene-
raj Melnikoff had promised me every
assistance Of receiving orders from
Teheran not to attempt 10 cross the
Afghan frontier and that was going
TO try to cross the deserts Of Siestan
and Beloochistan to Guetta. After
reaching Bertrand, 800 miles south o!
Mesbed, and talking with the Amer OF
Chan and Siestan, | decided that the
route to India was utterly impractical
bic for a Obi" unless | entered
Afshanistan. ] concluded that by
crossing the Dasht-i-naumid tdoserp
and avoiding any Afghan official Of inn
portance until well on toward kanda-
har, if they interlered with me at all
they would be as likely to send me to
Kandahar and on to GUetta as any
where. The result has proved that, in
thus reasoning, however, was reckon
ing without my host. The Ameer Of
Slestan gave me three sowars to guide
me across the Dasht-i naumid. lcrossed
the Harud--a broad, swift stream at
this season of the year-with the as
sistance Of the Afghan nomads, and in
seventeen days from Meshed, turned up
in Furrah, town about half way be-
tween Herat and Kandshar. | had
thoughts of lodging this town also, to
make doubly certain ofgettiug through,
but found the Furrah Rood unlorda-
BILE, and only TO be crossed at turrah,
where the Afghans have rude ferry
boat. | found Furrah occupied by
garrison of 'CGbool soldiers, and the
Governor, after expressing the utmost
establishment st finding me half way TO
Kandahar, when strict orders had been
issued that no Ferenghi was to be al
lowed across the frontier,
PROMPTLY PLACED ME UNDER AR
REST,
and, after keeping Inc couple OF days
TO satisfy himself as to whether | Was
an Erglshman or Russian spy, sent
Inc back TO Herat, a distance Of 100
miles, under a guard OF twelve men.
They kept me at Herat until they COM
manicated with Colonel Sir West Ridg-
way, Of the Afghan Boundary Commis-
sion. to ascertain what was to be done
with me. For answer, Faramuz Khan,
the military governor Of lIerat, received
instructions 10 have me escorted back
into Persia. We were overtaken when
near the Persian frontier by cou-
rier from the Boundary.CommissiOn
camp bearing q letter for me from
a gentleman connected with the COM
mission, in which he says: So onsid-
cring the very turbulent ard fanatical
character Of the population between
FuIrah and Kandahar, the Afghan OIL
Gals acted with the best motives in
preventing you from travelling through
Zamindavar and protecting you from
the risk which you would have been
exposed 10 in that tract. Indeed, with
out the express orders of the Amer
they could not take upon themselves to
allow you to proceed by that route"
The explanations Of the Afghans them
selves, for refusing to let me 90 on
through to India was that the nomads
would kill me, and the country
thereby get bad reputation.
The Governor of Furrah said
that guard of twenty men
couldn't see me through safely to Kan
dahar. even if the Ameer's orders didn't
prevent him from seeing me through.
lie said the Amer has no control over
the nomads, and being unable TO
guarantee a travellers safety, refuses
to allow anybody ia that portion Of the
country. | found the Afghan nomaGs
between Bertrand and kurrah no worse
than the koords; and, although | am
assured they are altogether different
east of Furrah, have strong faith that
the bicycle would have seen me through
without serious difficulty. AS far IS
ny experience goes, one has moro 20
contend with. when travelling in the
novel and conspicuous manner that |
was, from city mobs than from either
villagers or wandering tribes. At Tor
bet-i-Haideric | was fairly
IN THE HANDS OF THE MOB
FOR couple OF hours. | was seized By
the throat, and wantonly cracked on
the head and pelted with stones; but
came through without serious harm,
either to myself or bicycle. 1t Beer
land they broke down the door Of
enc room where | locked myself and
wheel in, and pelted me ont Of another
with stones through hole in the roof.
got along better with them al Beer
and, however, considering everything,
than at Torbet-.Haiderie. | have been
robbed once since leaving Meshed not
violently though; only had money
stolen. got the money back, and
sftergard was able to prevent the Of
lenders ears from teips cut of. Ny
experience as a prisoner with the AZ
ehans has been most interesting, and
had they but taken me the other way,
instead Of bringing RE back, it would
| have been nothing more than another
chapter Of strange and novel expert
cnces for the columns Of tho Hefald.
Naturally, though, | feel anything but
pleased with them for arresting me
within a ten.days' run OF the British
camp at Guetta, and landing me clear
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