JOURNEY FROM HERAT TO ORENBURG. 285 



their bow to me. But still the little rogue feared my 

 Persian robes, and appeared much alarmed. 



August 12th. That rascal, Khojah Mohamed, still 

 fails in bringing in any of the Russian prisoners, and 

 I fear I shall be detained here for some days. For- 

 tunately, the Khan is coming here on his road to a 

 shooting excursion, and I shall be able to see him if 

 necessary. 



August I4:th. The Khan arrived this morning, and 

 I obtained an audience. After pointing out the exer- 

 tions I had made to recover the prisoners, I showed 

 the Khan a list of those whom I knew to be still de- 

 tained, and said in plain terms that unless assisted by 

 him, I must beg to decline the share in the transaction 

 which had been assigned me ; that it was quite useless 

 to go to the Russian frontier unless I coitld take all 

 the prisoners, and that my " head was confused " with 

 the trouble I had already taken in this matter. His 

 majesty was astounded at my plain speaking, and gave 

 his minister an order in a tone which made him shake. 

 I have been advised to move one stage farther, and 

 have been promised all and every one of the prisoners, 

 and have received an order threatening death to any 

 one who shall detain them. 



August 15th. Left Dusht Houz this day, and was 

 delighted to find one of the officers of the household 

 waiting with seventeen of the Russian prisoners. I 

 have cross-questioned all the prisoners, and find there 

 is the son of one of them still a prisoner on this side. 



