Feb. 28, 1859.] FATE OF ADOLPIIE SCHLAGINTWEIT. 146 



with L^dak and India : probably, therefore, he took the opportunity 

 of the temporary subversion of Chinese authority to enter Khoten or 

 Yarkand. To go far or remain there, he could hardly avoid the 

 notice of the insurgent Turks, who, though contrary to their natural 

 impulse, might, in the actual conjuncture, welcome him as an 

 enemy to the Chinese, and the love of travel and enterprise might 

 prompt M. Schlagintweit to offer himself in that capacity. In either 

 case, when the Chinese got the upper hand, they would first regain 

 possession of their southern frontier towards Ladak, and he would 

 probably retire with the invading Turks through Kashgar into 

 Khokan, with which our relations have been very slight, although 

 wholly amicable, and on the strength of them, he might meet a 

 friendly reception there ; on the other hand, the Khokanis are on 

 bad terms with all their neighbours, including the Eussians, who 

 are steadily encroaching on their north-west frontier, and this would 

 add to his difficulties in leaving their country again. 



The ways out of Khokan are e. to Hi and s.e. to Kashgar, both 

 completely stopped by the Chinese ; s. to Badakshan and Cabul, but 

 physically and politically most difficult ; s.w. to Samarkand and 

 Bukhara, and w. to Khiva, both probably hostile to Khokan, and 

 certainly so to the British. A European, and especially an English 

 traveller, would find safety there only from Eussian protection. 

 Lastly, to the Eussian outposts on the n.w. and North Fort Aralsk, 

 near the Araland Ak-majed on the Sir (Jaxartes), where most pro- 

 bably he has proceeded, as he would then be in the civilised world 

 again. It would be futile to discuss the chances of his ultimate 

 escape, hanging as they do on the caprices of the vilest barbarians 

 of Central Asia. 



The President. — You will recollect that the three brothers Schlagintweit 

 proceeded over Thibet and the chains of the Himalaya, Kara-Korum, and 

 Kuen Lun to Khoten, and the descriptions of two of the brothers, Hermann and 

 Robert, have been made known to the Society. The third brother, Adolphe, 

 went to Yarkand, where it was currently reported and generally believed that 

 he had been killed in an affray between the Chinese and the Turcomans. 



Eeports have indeed since been gathered by our medallist, Captain Henry 

 Strachey, so well known, and he having sent them to the Secretary of State 

 for India, Lord Stanley has been so kind as to communicate them to this 

 Society. 



Sib C. Murray. — I have never been able to visit the country so far east, 

 but I can say this with complete confidence, that, from my own experience, 

 however we may differ from Russia politicall}^, if any English traveller falls 

 into the hands of the Russian commanders, I am perfectly convinced that 

 his safety and his honour will be respected in every way ; that I can bear my 

 own testimony to from personal experience. 



Mr. T. W. Atkinson, f.r.g.s. — I do not take the same gloomy view with 

 regard to the fate of Schlagintweit that many jjcople have entertained. Having 

 had some experience among the tribes in those regions, I can state that a man 



