JOURXEY FROM HERAT TO ORENBUEG. 293 



of very large trees were still to be found near the 

 former bed of the river. If this is the case, I should 

 consider it conclusive, for no trees could possibly have 

 thriven in this climate unless on the borders of a 

 river. Supposing this assertion to be correct, the pro- 

 montory which I have mentioned would have turned 

 the Oxus into the Caspian, and the mouth being choked 

 by an earthquake or some other cause, the river would 

 be turned by the other shoulder of the promontory into 

 its present course near Arbogue into the AraL The 

 Wolf rode over to Xova Alexandroff from Herat, 

 where I had sent him shortly after my arrival at 

 Khiva, and brought me English and Indian letters ; 

 he declares he was shot at six times on the journey. 

 He will be very useful in accompanying Mahomed 

 Daood and the tail to Khiva, Three vessels have 

 been sent for our conveyance to Oochuck, on the 

 northern shore of the Caspian, and from thence we 

 travel by post-stages to Orenburg. I have eighteen 

 camels and twenty- six horses, all Government pro- 

 perty, and it is absolutely necessary to have some 

 confidential person in charge of them. They must 

 be sent back to Khiva, as it is impossible to feed 

 them here, and this road will be impassable in about 

 two months more, owing to the excessive cold. Under 

 these circumstances I shall only take Fazil Khan and 

 Khoda Woordee with me, sending all the rest back 

 under Mahomed Daood. I have been four months 

 residing altogether amongst Mahomedans, and I con- 



