238 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



of yesterday. Moved in the evening six miles ; the same 

 broken, sandy ground, and the same ugly dwarf bushes. 

 June 2d. Moved during the night thirty miles. 

 At daylight I was pushing on ahead with the young 

 Turkoman, when he suddenly reined up the old mare 

 and listened attentively, crying, after a pause, " In- 

 shallah, we'll have a sheep to-day ; " and before I 

 could make inquiries as to the why and wherefore, 

 off went my friend at a gallop, leaving me to follow 

 as I best might. In about five minutes I heard the 

 bark of a dog ; a shout was then raised for the shep- 

 herd, and in due time a creature appeared much like 

 the drawings of Robinson Crusoe. The young Turko- 

 man and the shepherd were old friends, and their 

 meeting was very animated. The shepherd hoisted 

 himself about, leaning on his staff; and the young 

 Turkoman, throwing his left leg over the pommel 

 of the saddle, appeared to be giving an amusing 

 account of our party, for they both grinned and 

 now and then laughed loudly. In a few minutes 

 we reached the well, which proved to contain most 

 delicious water, and near it we found a camp of 

 Turkomans with large flocks of cattle ; they are 

 about to move to the river Oxus, finding it impos- 

 sible to feed their cattle any longer in the desert 

 The water for their sheep was drawn up by slaves. 

 Our party have been very busy this day, drinking 

 butter-milk and water, and praising the young Turko- 

 man guide. Total distance, thirty miles. 



