1841.] Manners and Habits of the Torkoman Tribes. 295 



able, and has no bridges. The latest traveller, Mr. Moorcroft, found no 

 difficulty in passing it; but unfortunately he omits to state in what 

 manner his passage was effected. The main stream of the Oxus is 

 formed of two branches. The right branch is called the Ping Diria, 

 and the left branch, which comes from Baduckshan, is joined in its 

 course from the Hindoo Cosh by several streams, and unites with the 

 Ping river near Hazerut Imam. 



Generally the Ammoo or Oxus is represented as a muddy, rapid, 

 deep, dirty and sand-bearing river, and to travellers from Persia the 

 largeness of the stream, and the quantity of water, is considered as 

 somewhat wonderful, and they can only compare it with the Tigris or 

 Euphrates. Mr. Moorcroft thinks it might be rendered navigable* from 

 lake Aral to Baduckshan ; in support of this supposition it is said, 

 that Nadir Shah directed a thousand boats to be made and prepared 

 for transporting his troops from Baduckshan, (or rather Khundooz,) 

 to Bokhara and Kharism. According to Mr. Moorcroft, boats might 

 be towed up by horses ; that horses for draught might be easily obtain- 

 ed at a small expence; but before this could be put into execution, 

 some knowledge of the banks on either side seems to be requisite. 

 Alexander found it a difficult matter to cross : he could get no 

 materials of which to construct a bridge, and was obliged to 

 adopt (then as it is now in many parts) the practice used in the 

 country, of making rafts by means of blown skins, the buoyancy of 

 which had the desired effect ; several rafts thus constructed were suffi- 

 cient to enable his army to pass this river in the course of five or six 

 days. The Torkomans and the Allemaneest are in the habit of swim- 

 ming their horses across. The subsidiary branches are frequently 

 crossed by individuals on cows, where the stream is very rapid. There 

 are various contrivances for passing it in different parts of its course, 

 to which the natives are habituated. The Cabool river is passed by 



* The Ammoo has never been navigated ; but as far as I can judge from personal 

 observation, there exists not a single obstacle formidable to its navigation. In respect 

 to barks of large burden especially, if conducted by a steam apparatus, and if objec- 

 tions not foreseen should apply to its agency, I can discover no more against tracking 

 than apply to the Ganges, with a superior advantage of the command of as many 

 horses as would possibly be required for that purpose, at a very low price. — Mr. Moor- 

 croft' s MS. letter from Bokhara. 



t The name of the gangs that go out forays. 



