JOURNEY FROM HERAT TO ORENBURG. 245 



June 13/7/. Summoned again to the Khan 

 Huzarut's presence. I was taken to a garden seat, 

 a favourite spot. I passed through a long gallery, 

 with a flat roof supported by beams, and, after one 

 or two zigzags, entered a court surrounded by buildings, 

 containing a large pond of water, on the edge of which 

 there were many fine trees. From this court we made 

 one or two zigzags to another similar court, and from 

 thence to a third, the zigzags from which led to the 

 Khan's dwelling. After ascending two or three flights 

 of narrow steep steps, I found myself in a large ver- 

 andah, and in the presence of Khan Huzarut. The 

 interview passed off very pleasantly, and the Khan 

 was pleased to give me access to his presence at any 

 hour. 



June IWi. This evening I waited on Khan 

 Huzarut on business at the garden seat. I have 

 omitted to mention that the eldest son of Kazi 

 Moollah, ]\Iahomed Hassan, who had been sent 

 several months previously with money and letters 

 for Captain Abbott, returned to Khiva on the day 

 of my arrival It appeared that he reached Khiva 

 after Captain Abbott's departure, and followed him 

 to Mungishlauk on the Caspian sea. There he heard 

 that Abbott had moved along the Caspian to Xova 

 Alexandroff, a Eussian fort ; and following his traces, 

 he at length found Abbott a prisoner and wounded 

 among the Cossacks. It appears that fifty Cossacks 

 at night attacked Abbott's small party, and soon 



