JOURNEY FROM HERAT TO ORENBURG. 289 



black, eyes yellow, and coat covered with ducats." 

 All the audience shook their heads, and said such a 

 man must be dangerous. 



The Eussian prisoners amounted to 416 souls, and 

 as my own party was considerable, it was decided by 

 the united wisdom of "They the Tutor," Caruley, 

 Niaz, and Beerdee, that half the Eussian prisoners 

 should march the first day under Niaz ; that Caruley 

 and his sowars should accompany me on the second 

 day ; and that Khojah Mahomed should bring up the 

 rear with the remaining half of the prisoners. I took 

 the precaution of leaving ten of Caruley's sowars as 

 spies on Khojah Mahomed. This arrangement was 

 found to answer very well ; and, thanks be to God ! 

 not a man, woman, nor child was lost during the 

 whole of this most fatiguing march. We were most 

 truly fortunate in every respect the weather was 

 most favourable, neither too hot nor too cold, and I 

 am not aware of a single instance of any of the 

 prisoners suffering from thirst or hunger. Not a horse 

 or camel even was lost. When crossing one of the 

 stages over this steppe, the whole of the prisoners 

 were together it was a glorious sight to pass them. 

 They speak no European language but their own, and 

 our only mode of salutation was the " Az salam Allie- 

 koum." This they shouted out to me as I rode by 

 them ; and thus the salutation which a true Mussul- 

 man will not exchange with an infidel, became the 

 only greeting between Christians. 



VOL. II. T 



