220 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



old friend said he had suffered very much from the 

 Persian force which, during the late siege of Herat, 

 was sent to this valley : he and all his tribe, with 

 every movable thing, retreated to the hills; but 

 they fled so precipitately, and to so great a distance, 

 that they lost several hundred cattle. "We marched 

 eighteen miles during the night : the first half of the 

 road is through the different little valleys close to 

 the banks of the Kooskh ; the remaining distance is 

 along the bed of the river, which you cross at a 

 tolerable ford. 



At sunrise started again, and moved twelve miles 

 along the banks of the Kooskh. Our place of rest 

 during the heat of the day was ill chosen ; heat great, 

 flies troublesome, grass indifferent, and water distant. 

 Total distance thirty miles. 



May 19th. Travelled six and three-quarter hours 

 last night ; road generally good, but many quicksands 

 in crossing the Kooskh. In one of them the Wolf got 

 a most effectual ducking, and lost his gun, which, 

 however, we found again after some search. The 

 sleeping-place was in a damp grassy spot ; but if it 

 had been in the bed of the river, I don't think I 

 should have objected, being most completely tired. 

 At sunrise loaded and mounted again, and marched 

 five and a quarter hours : total distance, forty-four 

 miles to the Murghab a muddy, rapid stream, the 

 banks of which are thickly fringed Avith tamarisk 

 jungle. Here we found a kafilah of grain bound for 



