298 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



gentleman. The arrangements regarding post-horses 

 are excellent, and the pace good, but oh, the carts ! 

 they are dreadful. I have travelled far, and in bar- 

 barous countries, but never did I suffer so much pain 

 as on this journey. The tract of country from Goo- 

 rieff to Orenburg is occupied by the Cossacks of the 

 Ural, who are amongst the hardiest soldiers in the 

 Eussian ranks ; they have many privileges connected 

 with the fisheries on the river. The fish is caught in 

 very great quantities, and is a considerable article of 

 traffic. 



On my arrival at Orenburg I parted with my long- 

 cherished beard, and inserted myself into the tight 

 garbs of Europe. Here I found a very pleasant 

 society. There is a considerable fortification, and a 

 large force. The bazaar is a very busy scene, and 

 natives from all parts of Asia may be seen wander- 

 ing about, staring at the wonders of European skill 

 and science. Since my arrival the natives of Khiva 

 who had been so long in confinement have been set 

 at liberty, and are to be allowed to return to their 

 homes with their property. The total number of 

 natives of Khiva at Orenburg, Ourvelskee, and 

 Astrakhan, who thus owe their release to English 

 mediation, is 640, which, added to the 416 Eussians 

 brought with me, makes a very satisfactory little 

 total in our favour, to say nothing of the numbers 

 which the prohibitory orders may be hoped to save 

 from a life of slavery. 



