92 Notes relative to Iskdrdok [Nov. 



seeds of friendship with that gentleman. I afterwards addressed several letters 

 to him, which with the exception of one which I despatched by the hand of a 

 man Mohamdu by name, and to which 1 had the pleasure to receive a reply, 

 failed to reach him. Since that period, notwithstanding every exertion on my 

 part, I have not been able to renew my correspondence with him. 



I have now the felicity to despatch Na'zim to you, who, please God, will, on his 

 arrival, mention to you in person every thing connected with me and my affairs. 

 My object is to request that you will depute a confidential agent to me, that I may 

 entrust to him some secrets whicli I wish to impart. Although the application 

 of an humble individual is considered forward and presumptuous, yet recollecting 

 your kindness, and the reputation which you enjoy with the world for your 

 friendly disposition, I have taken the liberty of communicating my wish to you, 

 and I hope that it will be deemed deserving your consideration, that both parties- 

 may be reciprocally benefitted. 



From Captain Wade to Ahmad Sha h, dated the 22nd of February, 1834. 

 After Compliments, 



I have been gratified by the receipt of your kind letter at an auspicious moment, 

 when my thoughts were directed towards you. Its arrival has expanded my heart 

 with joy, as it assured me of your health and welfare. 



The communications with which you charged your servant Na'zim have been 

 delivered to me. What you wrote regarding the feelings of attachment and 

 regard by which you are moved towards my countrymen, I can well appreciate. 

 The fact is, there is nothing more valuable or estimable in the world than friend- 

 ship, tending as it does to promote the peace and prosperity of mankind. It is 

 particularly conducive to their welfare, when its fruitful influence prevails be. 

 tween different nations. The British Government has a due regard for every 

 one with whom it has any amicable relations. I, as well as the Government 

 which I serve, are aware of your sentiments of attachment and friendship; but as 

 I cannot properly depute a person on my own part, nor answer your questions 

 without the permission of my Government, and the Right Honorable the Gover- 

 nor General, happens at present to be absent on a distant journey (at Utaca- 

 mund), and the hot season is rapidly approaching, I do not consider it advisable 

 to detain Na'zim with me, until I can get a reply from His Lordship. I have 

 therefore dismissed him on his return. He will communicate to you the sin- 

 cere regard which I entertain for you, while I inform my Government of the 

 contents of your letter, and will let you know hereafter what reply I receive. 



Considering me among your sincere friends, continue to gratify me frequently 

 by the receipt of your welcome letters. 



Situation. — Iskardoh is a mountainous country, divided into valleys 

 of various extent. It is situated towards the point where the Belat 

 Tdk and Mus Tdk mountains converge and separate the lofty ledges 

 of Tibet, from the plains and valleys of Tarkistdn ; among the natives 

 it is generally known by the name of Beldestdn. 



Tradition. — The tradition is, that Alexander the Great came here 

 on an expedition towards Khatd or Scythia (modern China), and that 

 the Koteli Mustdk, or the Mustdk mountains, which lie between Ydrqand 

 and Khatd, being at that time impassable, on account of the depth and 

 severity of the snow, the Macedonian halted on the present site of 

 the capital, until a road could be cleared for his passage ; when, leaving 

 every part of his superfluous baggage, together with the sick, old, and 

 infirm of his troops behind, in a fort which he erected while there, 

 he advanced against Khatd. These relics of the army founded a city r 

 which they named Iskandarid, or Alexandria, now pronounced Iskar- 

 doh. 



