AK-TAPA. 273 



Russian type ; and at 8 P.M. I was off once more, 

 thinking the drive in the cool of the evening 

 would be enjoyable. And so it was at first, but 

 when nature began to assert herself, and sleep 

 stole upon me, it was not so pleasant being 

 jerked and jolted until my head seemed likely 

 to part from my body. But, in spite of this dis- 

 comfort, I persevered on my way until mid- 

 day brought us to Jizak. 



After all the heat and dust a tub would have 

 been very refreshing, and though I had my fold- 

 ing bath with me, the post-house was so crammed 

 with people that there was not a corner in which 

 to take it. 



A short rest and some food, and by sunset 

 we were on the road again, being determined to 

 get to Samarkand the next day if possible, and 

 though there was a stoppage of two hours at Ak- 

 Tapa, we succeeded in reaching it at 1 1 A.M. Here 

 we drove through the native city by a good road 

 to the Russian cantonments, and were directed to 

 a fairly comfortable hotel, where I was treated in 

 a half-European, half-Oriental manner. It was a 

 luxury to have a few bodily comforts after the 

 heat and dust of the way, and a rest of two days 

 was by no means amiss. By that time the mail- 



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