282 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



dissipated-looking Chowdoor Turkoman, from whose 

 face I have no hopes. To add to my annoyances, they 

 have given the power of collecting the Eussian pris- 

 oners to this man, whose name is Khojah Mahomed. 

 Now the Chowdoors are the chief dealers in Eussian 

 slaves ; they are settled about Mungishlauk, and have 

 seized at different times several fishing-boats ; in these 

 they embark, and capture the unfortunate Eussian 

 fishermen on the Caspian. It is not likely that any 

 of this tribe should assist me in collecting the Eussian 

 prisoners, especially as it is known that one of the 

 objects of my journey to the Caspian is to put a stop 

 to their piracy. Accordingly, Khojah Mahomed 

 made great protestations of his zeal and promises of 

 activity, but did nothing whatever. The Eussian 

 prisoners released themselves occasionally and came 

 to me, but none were brought by him. At last two 

 Eussian prisoners, with chains on their feet, escaped 

 from Khojah Mahomed's own house, and came to me. 

 This was too much for my patience, and I declared 

 my determination of bringing his rascality to the Khan 

 Huzarut's notice ; but Caruley and Maz begged me to 

 overlook the man's offence, saying that the Khan 

 Huzarut would certainly have put him to death if 

 I complained of him. The creature, too, humbled 

 himself before me, and said he had eaten dirt, and 

 begged me to forgive him, binding himself by all pos- 

 sible oaths to behave better in future. He had the 

 collecting of half the camels, and it would be difficult 



