Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-25
A BICYCLIsr IN PERSIA.
stevens Tour Around the World
The Difficulties Encountered.


ID. Persia, April 5. 1885, Thomas Stevens,
the tourist, VINO is trayersing the world
on bicycle and IS now under arrest in
Russia, says:
II arrived in Meshed on March 80, after
a twenty-days' struggle with the worst
weather encountered On the whole
tourney. | made the mistake OF starting
from Teheran a month TOO early in the
season, and have paid the penalty in hav-
ing had task to reach Mesned, by the
side of which every other part OF the
journey has been child's play in COM
harrison. 1t was summerlike weather
when / left Teheran, buJ ] nave found the
climate Of khoras5an altogether different,
and | reached Meshed through two feet of
snow. Khorassan Is a fearful country to
bJcycle through in March. After a rain
storm streams of liquid mud come down
from the mountains and spread over the
plain, making areas wellnlgh lmpassa-
bic for a cycier; the wind is worse than in
wyoming or Nebraska, and the climatic
changes are sudden and severe. The
second day before reaching Meshed | got
caught in blizzard that would do credit
20 Minnesota. Arrayed in u summer
suit, with sun helmet cycling stockings
and gear, | had TO ford through snow
drifts, W hen the cold was So efficient to form
iclcles on eyelashes, and transform the
moustacbe into cake of ice.
at was really desperate case at one
iuucture. tell into a mountain stream
when the blizzard was at its worst, drop
ned the bicycle, and wetted everything.
with clothes frozen stia, hands numbed,
and one finger sliggtly frost bitten. had
TO force a way through the snow over the
desOlate mountains for miles and ford
other streams ere shelter was reached.
And then such accommodation! The day
reached Meshed trundled the bicycle
along single pack animal trail, through
the deep snow, the rear wheel alOtt for IA
miles. it had suddenly turned hot, and
it was ankle deep in mud and slush the
whole distance. This eXhilarating pro-
gramme would be varied occasionally by
fording a stream OF uncertain depth. 1t
has been a tough 600 miles, but 1t IS en-
tirelg owing TO my mistake in leaving
Teheran too early. With good weather
the trip could be done with a bicycle
in twelve days, tor the country is chiefly
plain, and there is much excellent wheel
ing.
after being spoken fair, oh so fair and
polite, and promlseiul bv the Russian
Minister in Teheran, and going to the
trouble and expense of procuring sutli-
cie0t Russian money TO carry me- clear
through to Japan via Merv, Samaricand,
and southern Siberia. | received notice
when half way to Neshed that l wouldn't
be permitted to 90 through purkestan on
any account. Upon reaching Meshed | am
confronted by the comforting assurance
that it would be equally impossible TO 20
through Atghanistan. A telegram ar
riYes from the British Legation at
Teherau with the strict orders:
You must not attempt to cross the
fsrhn ffnrz NJ nraV m FIat
20 some other route
still hopeful | awaited the arrival OF
the courier from the camp OF the bound
airy commission, to whlch.a letter Of in-
curry had been kindly forwarded by MIR.
Gray, the telegrapber of the commission,
from Meshed. Yesterday the courier ar
rived with the word, 1t is useless to raise
the question of Stevens coming through
Afgnanistan, for the Afghans would on
no account allow him to cross the frontier
much less to come through to India. Inc
consequence of all this is that lind N.Y.
self in the northeast corner Of Persia,
hOpelessly blocked from the only two
routes that ! have so far been consider
ing. What is to he done? TRY Sib3riaP
says the latter from the camp of the
Boundary Commission. The eXclama-
ton point belongs to the writer OF the let
ter 1t might perhaps be advisable tor
YOU to 90 to Astrakhan and try and get
through Siberia, kindly. but diplomatic
cally, suggests the message from Teheran.
BY taking this doubtless well meant adj
vice | should have to retrace my road
some 300 miles. thence cross the Elburz
Mountains to Asterabad, and take Rus
sian steamer across the Caspian to Astra-
khan, 200 miles from Meshed. Arriv-
ing at Astrakhan there remains the fol-
lowing unsatisfactory state of affairs:
First and foremost, and, as l find, not
by any means to be moderated, the I'M
reliability Of a Russian promise TO give
the road, and, secondly 1880 miles of
country, that | am afraid would prove
a rather monotonous journey, with
comparatively little OF interest for my
notebook.
"On the other hand, | can get down the
eastern frontier of Persia some 500 or 600
miles to Seistan, whence it is 500 or 600
more TO the English camp at Quetta,
Belo0chistan. Between Seistan, however.
and Quetta, interyenes a region marked
on the maps with the OminOus name
'Dasht-i-marg,' desert of death J, and all,
ar und to the south and west are other
deserts marked sand 'unexplored de-
sert.' etc, and it seems like yeritable
torlorn hope to start OF down there
There ia one opening out OF this region,
however; the Hemond river leads up to-
ward Caudabar. and it may he barely
practical to follow it along. But then,
again, it leads through Afghan territory.
These explanations will suffice to give
some idea Of the difficulties Of my present
situation they look well-nigh insurmount-
able. / AM going through though, in
some sort of way, in spite Of the devil,
and, perhaps, l ought TO add the diplo-
mats. After deliberate consideration |
nave concluded 20 attempt the route
through Seistan. To that end ] have OBJ
tanned from the Governor General OF
khorassan a letter TO the Governor OF
Selstan, and another TO 'whomeYer it may
coneern,' asking and ordering them to
render us every assistance in getting
through to India. ! have hopes that the
Aighans down toward Canadabar Will
prove more reasonable, and allow me a
road through to Quetta. Anyhow, armed
With these letters and the belief that even
the dread 'dasht-i-marg' viii present "A no
more unsympathizing front than 'ciVliZ.
ed Russia and fauatical Afghan, and that
under any circumstances nv experiences
VIII be more varied and interesting, !
start southwark tomorrow. From what
can see the fear Of my bicvcle falling me
m these wild countries s. likely TO prove
ihe least Of what any one need apprehend
concerning the Journey