1833.] City—Gosh Begt. 225 
some of the Khaliphs discovered that the faithful should be distinguished 
from those who were not Muhammedans. 
On entering the city, the authorities did not even search us, but in 
the afternoon an officer summoned us to the presence of the minister. 
My fellow-traveller was yet prostrated by fever, and could not accom- 
pany me; I therefore proceeded alone to the ark or palace where the 
minister lived along with the king. I was lost in amazement at the 
novel scene before me, since we had to walk for about two miles through 
the streets of Bokhara before reaching the palace. I was immediately 
introduced to the minister, or as he is styled, the Gosh Begi, an 
elderly man, of great influence, who was sitting ina small room, with a 
private court-yard in front of it. He desired me to be seated outside 
on the pavement, but evinced both a kind and consideratemanner, which 
set my mind at ease. The hardness of my seat, and the distance from 
the minister, did not overpower me with grief, since his son, who ap- 
peared during the interview, was even further removed than myself. I 
presented a silver watch and a Kashmir dress, which I had brought for 
him ; but’ he declined to receive anything, saying that he was but the 
slave of the king. He then interrogated me for about two hours, re- 
garding my own affairs and the objects which had brought me to a 
country so remote as Bokhara. I told the usual tale of being in pro- 
gress towards our native country, and produced my passport from the 
Governor General of India, which the minister read with peculiar atten- 
tion. I then added, that Bokhdra was a country of such celebrity among 
eastern nations, that I had been chiefly induced to visit Turkistdn for 
the purpose of seeing it. But what is your profession, said the minis- 
ter? I replied that I was an officer of the Indian army. But tell me, 
said he, something about your knowledge :—and he here entered upon 
various topics as to the customs and politics of Europe, but parti- 
cularly of Russia, on which he was well informed. In reply to his 
inquiries regarding our baggage, I considered it prudent to acquaint 
him that I had a sextant, since I concluded that we should be searched, 
and it was betterto make a merit of necessity. [informed him therefore 
that I liked to observe the stars, and the other heavenly bodies, since it 
was a most attractive study. On hearing this, the vizier’s attention was 
roused, and he begged, with some earnestness, and ina subdued tone of 
voice, that I would inform him of a favorable conjunction of the planets,. 
and the price of grain which it indicated in the ensuing year. I told him, 
that our astronomical knowledge did not lead to such information; at 
which he expressed himself disappointed. On the whole, however, he 
appeared to be satisfied of my character, and assured me. of protec. 
GG 
