The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-28
TWO MEN CROSS BELUCHlSTAN.

Russian q Ulcers Have nm Adventuresonic
Journey and XIII Some %HrIgands.
Awhile ago Lieuts. Leontier and Patrin,
Russian army officers. left the town of
Djulfa. the last Russian post on the Russo
Persian frontier. for the purpose OF cross
ing Persia and Beluohistan on horseback,
snys tho New York Sun, and they travelled
without an escort. discarding all baggage
except what could be carried by the two
horses they rode. They we're armed to the
teeth. Thew followed the road thronRh
Tehernn. and western Persia, being q we'll
cultivated land. offered no difficulties.
1t WIS very different, however, III Belu-
chistan, a region that is infested with Dig
ands. The Persians will not trust them
selves there, except in large caravans. Win
an armed and mounted escort. The people
of Bsluchistan are not numerous ana 90
not Welcome the visits Of strangers. FOR
their better security the tourists made II q
practice to camp in the open air at q con
siderable distance. not only from settle
ments. but also from the Travelled road.
They had to put themselves on u short al
lowance of sleep. as one of them was inVe-
riably on guard while the other slept. They
accordingly found the journey extremely
fatiguing and also auffered from a scarcity
of food. being at times unable to buy any
supplies from the natives. -,
hwy uuu IL uulpS VI ohNcuiitSAo "Nr
bands of brigands numbering twenty tc
thirty members. Whenever they saw n sus.
pected lot Of men on their ronte they let
the road in order to give the party passage
il they desired it, without coming IN con
tact with them. II the banu's Intention
were all right they could 90 along their way
and leave the Russians to themselves. II
they were briRnnds they Mt once made thu
fact known by posing their arms ant
starting toward tho two travellers az fast al
they could run. On every such occasion
the travellers Immediately opened fire. Boil
were splendid shots, and they had the bes'
Of rapid-tiring guns. One time. in lea
than a minute shey fired eighteen shots
most of which hit their mark. The bril-
gands could not stand such defensive Ell
ergy, and invariably took to fight afte
some of their number had fallen. Th
tourists. therefore, did not succeed II
crossing the little known country withou
shedding considerable blood. When tn
brigands had disappeared from view tn
travellers took the road again and Travelled
at top speed for miles in order to eVad
pursuit. =.
They reached the frontier Of India earl
in the spring. AS they were Russian sol
diers, they had great difficulty in inducinI
the British authorities to permit them t.
travel in India. With the aid, however. o
the French consular agents they finally OBJ
tanned permits to wander where the
pleased. They travelled as far as the lndu
which they descended, and then returned t
Europe. The journey they made was on
which nobody would care to undertake un
less possessed of a most adventuresom
spirit, and the two soldiers could not hav
succeeded in their enterprise If they ha'
not been splendidly armed and ready t
use their weapons upon the slightest lndl
cation that they were in danger.