280 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



set started again, and marched twenty miles during 

 the night, chiefly along the edge of sandhills. This 

 was merely a slip of sand, the cultivation being on 

 either side of it. The river is said to be only a short 

 day's march from this about, I suppose, twenty 

 miles; it is said to have encroached very much of 

 late, and on this account the estates here have been 

 much neglected. This place is called Dusht Houz : 

 total distance this day, thirty-five miles. Caruley 

 Yuz Bashe, the commandant of cavalry accompany- 

 ing me, is a handsome active man, and I am well 

 pleased with him. He is much in favour with the 

 Khan, and has received orders never to appear again 

 at Court unless he can give a good account of me. I 

 was repeatedly asked by the Khan, before leaving, to 

 fix the number of troopers I would like to have with 

 me ; but this I always refused, saying I was his 

 guest, and would go with one or two horsemen, or 

 with a thousand; but until I reached the Eussian 

 frontier I trusted to his majesty for protection, with 

 whom the disgrace must rest if any misfortune 

 happened to me, as he could alone take the necessary 

 precautions. Caruley was one of the party sent by 

 the Khan to oppose the Eussian advance under the 

 Koosh Beggie. This party succeeded in surprising 

 and carrying off 200 camels belonging to the Eussian 

 army ; but as no blood had been spilt, they decided 

 on attacking a small Eussian detachment which had 

 taken up a position behind a slight intrenchment. 



