Year: 1873

KHIvA Sept. J. 1878.


I hsd now been seeking Kaufman 20 days.
bad started from Fort Perovsky in the full conf
hence OF overtaking him In five days at the ut
most. | expected 10 find him at the well OF Myn
Boolak in the Bookantan Mountains, but before
reaching there learned, from undoubted author
Ity that he was not there and would not be there,
but that would find him at Tamdi, 100 miles east
OF that point and 200 west OF Tashkend. / changed
my route accordingly, but the next day learned
from caravan that Kaufman was not at Tamdi,
but at Aryistan- oil-Koodook. l started for that
point which l could not find on any OF my maps,
but had not proceeded more than so miles when
learned from some native guides whom met and
who had been in the employ OF the Grand Duke
Nicholas, that Kaufman was not at Aryistanbi
but at Karak-ati This point ] found on
Ghe map and changed my route accordingly
But again learned from some Kirgheez that he was
not at Karak-ati, but at Khaa-ata another point
which was not on my map, and again changed my
course this time crossing trackless desert for
distance or 100 miles, where there was not a cara
van route. nor even sneep path, arriving at last
at Knala ata, tired and worn out 70 find that Kauf
mann was gone five days Here again the Oxus
he had disappeared when was sure OF him, as
thought. Would never find hmf To nv excited
imagination wrought up by the hardships | had
undergone, and my own strange wanderngs in this
unknown land, Kaufman began to appear like
phantom, and half expected to wake up in the
Hotel de la Grande Bretagne at Paris, and fnd the
expedition against Khiva a myth and my own
strange adventures a troubled dream.


on THE TRAIL OF THE RUSSIANS.


But no: here were the dead ashes OF burned out
camp fires ana the tracks OF the cannon He could
not be lar now and could see no indication OF his
having crossed the river at this point. There was
nothing do but follow his trail, and this was not
difficult. rode my horse into the river up 10 mis-
belly, scoopng the water in my hands TO taste 1t.
found It muddy, but sweet and good, and decided
70 stop here to take our mornings tea as we had
eaten nothing since tae previous morning but
little black bread and water.


All that day we followed the trail OF the army in
momentary expectation Of catching sight OF the
rear guard, and all that day we were doomed TO
disappointment. The trail lei along the bank
Of the river in the direction OF the Arm
sea, sometimes in the valley along the
waters edge again mounting the bluns
where they approached the river and which were
from SO 100 feet high. At one place whore Tho
road lay along the waters edge. overhung by the
bluffs, we were horribly frightened by camel that
came tumDling over the chn and iell right among
u.s. with broken neck. We were relieved how
ever, when we discovered that he was blind as IL
nothing unusual to see cames left 10y Kauf.
mann wandering about alone My people had
even picked up three or four which they had tried
10 utilize in order to rest horses but had never
been aoe to get them to 60 more than an hour.
When camel thinks he has gone far enough he
won't go any further and 1t is time lost 10 try to
prevail on him to 60. In the afternoon we came
upon fields OF excellent wheat and clover, which
our horses cropped with avidity-the FIRST clover
tney had tasted for month-and we
soon began to make out habitations, or
something resembling them, on the other
side OF the river, but further down. Then
suddenly we met nve men on horseback coming
around bend of the river and we seized our
a'ms' put they dashed into the river, swan across
ana scured OF on the other side in the direction
oi khva, until they were lost In the sand. judy.
lug mat they had no reinforcements near, or they
would not have run away 1--WE were seven 10 their
nvel, Tired two or three shots al them with nv win
chester, but without success, however. Later. the
guide made out with my field glass which had
gwen him, group OF fifteen or twenty men, prob.
AAI Kniyans, camped near the river As they