JOURNEY FROM HERAT TO ORENBURG. 221 



Herat, and a man with a note from the Kazi of 

 Yellatoon to Major Todd, in which I found it writ- 

 ten that Captain Abbott had not only succeeded in 

 stopping the advance of the Russian army, but had 

 reached St Petersburg and procured an order for the 

 return of the force and the destruction of the forts. 

 I don't believe this, though what on earth could 

 make this Kazi of Yellatoon write such a falsehood 

 is difficult to imagine. At any rate, I shall go on to 

 Khiva. I have decided on sending the Wolf back 

 with this letter ; he promises to reach Herat in two 

 days, and to return to me at Merv on the sixth day 

 from this date. 



May 20th. Before starting yesterday, the Kazi 

 came to my tent and said that three Turkomans were 

 carrying away some natives of Herat as slaves. On 

 coming out, I found young Daood had seized the 

 bridle of the leading Turkoman, and was bringing 

 the party to our camp. There were ten slaves, two 

 females, and the rest boys mere children. I am 

 ashamed to say that I was silly enough to let my 

 anger lead me into the absurdity of expressing 

 the disgust and horror which I felt, and was guilty 

 of the folly of lecturing Turkomans on the evil of 

 their ways. The poor children seemed thin and 

 harassed, but not the least frightened, nor very 

 anxious for their release ; though it is possible that 

 fear of the three Turkomans prevented their speaking 

 out on this subject. I asked Brutus to sit by me 



