242 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



cultivation, in a hollow, the ascent from which was 

 rather precipitous; these are the first fixed habita- 

 tions we have seen since leaving Merv. About one 

 mile from this passed another village, still smaller, 

 and soon afterwards came in sight of this village, 

 " Pitnak," which is very extensive, thickly popu- 

 lated, and appears to be highly cultivated ; large trees 

 in every direction, and many carts. Total distance, 

 thirty-five miles. 



June IQth, Wednesday. Came on this morning 

 thirteen miles, about a mile of which was through 

 the village of Pitnak, and then eight miles across 

 rather high barren ground, and the remainder through 

 a cultivated country. Eound this place, " Hazar Asp " 

 (thousand horses), there is a fort of some size, but no 

 strength. The Inak's garden seems a fine one, and 

 the wealth and prosperity of the inhabitants, and the 

 fertility of the soil, have surprised me greatly. From 

 all accounts which I have ever read of Turkistan, the 

 whole of the country is described as a desert, and the 

 people as a miserable race, living in tents and possess- 

 ing a few flocks of cattle ; but from Merv I marched 

 through thirty miles of cultivation watered by the 

 Murghab. This cultivation appeared to extend for 

 many miles inland, the Ttliails being very numerous ; 

 and here the whole face of the country is a garden, 

 and each family appears to have its own farmhouse. 

 The carts of the country meet you at every corner ; 

 they are invariably drawn by a stout pony. Their 



