JOUKNEY FROM HERAT TO ORENBURG. 273 



making frequent excursions on the opposite banks of 

 the river, where game is said to be very abundant. 

 He also moves out annually in the spring, to super- 

 intend the opening of the canals for irrigation. The 

 whole of the cultivation is dependent on the supply 

 of water drawn from the river by these canals, as the 

 showers of rain are very slight. The fish in the Oxus 

 are very abundant, of excellent quality ; and lower 

 down the river, at Kurrakulpauk, the natives subsist 

 entirely on them. The trade is chiefly with Russia, 

 from whence the sugar and broadcloth are sent in 

 caravans. The teeth of the sea-horse, from the polar 

 regions, is also an article of commerce. From Mungish- 

 lauk to Khiva, a camel can carry his load in twenty- 

 two days ; and from Petersburg to Mungishlauk there 

 is one uninterrupted communication by water. Peter 

 the Great formed the canal communication between 

 Petersburg and the Volga, and thus won from Cowper 

 the memorable line 



"The astonished Caspian hears the distant Baltic roar." 



"With such advantages, it is unnecessary to say that 

 we can hardly hope to compete with Eussian mer- 

 chants in the Khivan market. Owing to the late war 

 with Russia, no merchandise reached Khiva, except 

 through Bokhara, from Orenburg ; but a glance at the 

 map will show that the proper outlet for merchandise 

 from Eastern Russia into Northern Asia is not from 

 Orenburg but from Astrakhan, from whence sailing 

 VOL. n. s 



