284 Travels in Central Asia. [No. 3. 



sian engineering service at Astracan, in a Portuguese brigantine 

 for Lisbon. 



There he met with a Mr. Aylmer connected with the Principal 

 of Clongoose, who induced him to go with him to Egypt. Mr. Gar- 

 diner then became acquainted with Messrs. Datterwitz, two Ger- 

 man mineralogists, and another M. Musaix, a Frenchman, and tra- 

 velled with them overland to Astracan, joining the Diarbekr cara- 

 van returning from Mecca to Tribizond, thence by water to a road- 

 stead between Vudaun and Kark. Thence by land to the north of 

 the Caucasus — misguided, they were in great danger from the na- 

 tives at Anacuck, but escaped and reached Georest and Astracan 

 in safety. Found his brother living in the island of Kumchnoe 

 opposite Guricoe. 



Mr. Gardiner remained there till 1829, preparing himself for the 

 Kussian Engineers, when all his prospects were blasted by the death 

 of his brother. Claims on the part of the Eussian Government for 

 settlement of accounts balanced, absorbed all his brother's estate. 

 He determined to return to America ; but Mr. Datterwitz with a 

 M. Shrotzky returned from Orenburg and induced him to accom- 

 pany them to Persia. 



Prom Astracan, about the beginning of September, they proceeded 

 to Karazan where they were joined by a traveller, M. Martigny, who 

 had been examining the coral island in the volcanic range to the East 

 of the Caspian. In November the party had to take refuge from 

 storms in Kramwood bay, North of Balkan. After much delay and 

 contrary winds they reached Astrabad — there M. Martigny and 

 Datterwitz separated and M. Shrotzky remained with Mr. G. — and 

 they proceeded Eastward with the intention of procuring service in 

 the Punjab, in consequence of reports they had heard from a M, 

 Musaix, (nephew of his former companion.) 



This course brought them to Herat where the Journal com- 

 mences. 



Journal. 



Jan. 24ith. — Mr. Gardiner left Herat with a small caffila of re- 

 turned pilgrims for Koondooz. Passed by an unfrequented road 

 East of Bamian, through the Hazari country, for sixteen days : the 

 marches about twelve miles — owing to numerous ravines and streams, 



