666 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [July, 



6. But the same paper is further interesting from an accidental coincidence. 

 The Meerza I have before mentioned accompanied me from Tash Koorghau to 

 Muzar, and in the course of conversation, which naturally turned in a great mea- 

 sure on the melancholy fate of Moorcroft's party, he said that about a month be- 

 fore the death of Trebeck he had one day gone to him, by desire of the Khan, to 

 purchase some pearls which he heard he had. Trebeck produced the pearls but 

 when questioned about the price said in a desponding tone, Take them for what 

 you please, my heart is broken, what care I for price now 1 The entry is this : " Total 

 on the strings, 280 grs. Oct. 15th. Taken by Meerza, 131 grs. or 4 miskals. 16th. 

 Taken by Dewan Bkghee 33 grs. or 1 miskal." It will be observed no price is 

 affixed ; — probably none was received. A stranger in a foreign land far from the sooth- 

 ing voice of countrymen or kinsfolk, surrounded by rude hordes who looked on him 

 as the only obstacle to possessing themselves of the countless treasures which they 

 believed to be in his charge, his youthful spirit pined and sunk. The bright visions 

 with which he had commenced his career had long since vanished : — where he had 

 looked for pleasures he had found toils, where for rest, he had to guard against 

 dangers : sickness had carried off many of the companions with whom he had set out 

 and when at last it struck his guide, his own familiar friend to whom he had looked 

 for support under every adversity, and for rescue from every difficulty, and when 

 in addition he found that all hopes of return to his native land seemed if not cut off 

 at least indefinitely deferred, his heart as he too truly said was broken, and in a few 

 short weeks he sunk into an untimely grave. I should apologize for a digression 

 unsuited I confess to the character of an official paper, but it is impossible to hear 

 the warm terms in which poor Trebeck is still mentioned by the rude natives 

 amongst whom he died without feeling the deepest sympathy in the fate of one who 

 fell " so young and yet so full of promise." 



7. It is only necessary I should add one or two more observations. The account 

 book, which I now forward, is a valuable document in more respects than one. It 

 contains an accurate list of the stock originally purchased by Mr. Moorcroft when 

 starting for his journey, and will serve to modify considerably the extravagant ideas 

 that have been entertained of the quantities of goods which he carried. Taken in 

 conuexion with the loose MS, accounts it will serve also to evince that the greater 

 part of this stock was sold off previous to his leaving Bokhara, and as far as my in- 

 formation goes I am inclined to believe the proceeds were chiefly expended in the 

 purchase of horses, of which I understand he had when he died somewhat under a 

 hundred, including specimens of all the best Uzbek and Turkooman breeds. 



8. The account book is further interesting as containing in Mr. Moorcroft's 

 own handwriting a list of the articles which he offered on his presentation to the 

 king of Bokhara, and a note at the end to the effect that the king had, in return 

 ordered him a remission of the duties of his merchandize rather more than equalling 

 the estimated value of the goods. It is further satisfactory to be able to add, on 

 the authority of several Bokhara merchants who were on terms of intimacy with 

 him during his stay in that city, that his character was highly appreciated by the 

 king, who frequently sent for him to enjoy the pleasure of his conversation, and 

 couferred on him the high privilege, never before granted to a Christian, of riding 

 through the city and even to the gate of the king's palace on horseback. 



9. In addition to the list of his merchandize this account book contains also a 

 list of his private property, which it appears Mr. Moorcroft was obliged by order 

 of the Koosh Begee to make out on entering Bokhara: from this list we learn 

 that he possessed 90 volumes of books. The number I have recovered and which 

 1 have now the honor to place at your disposal is 57 ; amongst them are several odd 

 volumes of which the sets if complete, would give an addition of about 30-^ 

 total 87, so that there are probably not more than two or three volumes of which 

 we may not consider ourselves to have ascertained the fate. As to MSS. I have 

 already shewn the high improbability that any of consequence have eluded my re- 

 searches. 



10. Scattered through the printed volumes numerous notes and corrections in 

 Mr. Moorcroft's own handwriting will be found. Of these some referring inci- 

 dentally to the dangers of his journey, or laying down plans as to the route by which 

 he meant to return, cannot be read without emotion. 



11. In conclusion it is but justice to add that the impression every where left by 

 this enterprizing but ill-fated party has been in a high degree favorable to our 

 national character. 



Peshawvr, 26th May 1838. (Signed) P. B. Lord. 



Translation of a letter from Mirza Humee ood Deen to P. B. Lord, Esq. 



" A. C. Two books and one manuscript are in the city of Shuhr Subz. I have 

 sent a person to bring them and when they reach me I shall send them to you. In 

 all things I will never forget your good offices. Let me always hear of your wel- 

 fare. Believe what the man says and that I am your well-wisher. Dated Mohurrum 

 1254 A. H." 



