272 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. , 



arrived at Khiva on the 12th of June, and remained 

 there fifty-two days. This season is sometimes un- 

 healthy, owing to the rice crops, which, as usual, 

 cause much malaria, and consequently fever and 

 ague ; but we were exceedingly fortunate, and I 

 heard of very few cases. The climate is very healthy, 

 and the seasons much similar to those in England, 

 except the winter, which is intensely severe. The 

 fruits are very delicious, particularly the melon, than 

 which nothing can be of more exquisite flavour. 

 They boast a hundred different sorts. There is one of 

 a long oval shape, which is of a light green colour, 

 and delicate as new-fallen snow. A child may eat 

 any quantity of this fruit without suffering. 



The grapes are .most abundant, but I have not 

 tasted any equal in flavour to those grown on the 

 banks of the Furrah Rood, a river in Afghanistan. 

 Here the vine is supported on sticks, and in winter, 

 after pruning, they bury the main branches under the 

 earth to protect them from the frost. Apples, pears, 

 plums, &c., are all found in great abundance. 



The Khan is a good-natured, unaffected person of 

 about forty-five years of age ; he has invariably treat- 

 ed me with much kindness, and appears very anxious 

 to gain information regarding England, and Europe 

 generally. He is much respected by his subjects, 

 with whom he bears a high character for justice. He 

 has a very large hawking establishment, and is very 

 partial to this sport, for which he is in the habit of 



