Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. [Jaw. 



branch, mentioned by the before mentioned travellers. M. Mouravier 

 thinks the Amou, about 160 verstes north of Khiva, turned to the west, 

 ^nd divided into two branches before entering the bay of Balkan. 

 However it is not Monsieur Mouraviev alone who has assured me of 

 his having seen the ancient bed of the Oxus in many places between 

 the Caspian and Khiva, in which bushes now grow : a Major of Cossaks 

 and native of Khiva, who was a very well educated man, considered it 

 would be easy to restore the ancient course to the Amou-deria, which 

 he supposed was to© notorious to be doubted. It is currently reported that 

 this river was turned by the Khivians during the piracies,* of the Cossak 

 Stenko-Razin, in 1670; but Jenkinson says in 1559. The Oxus former- 

 ly fell into the Balkan bay, but now does not reach so far, but flows 

 into the lake of Kitai, or Aral ; all the water in this country is procur- 

 ed by canals from the Oxus, which is the reason it no longer reaches 

 the sea. 



The general opinion at Khiva is that an earthquake, about 500 years 

 ago, changed the course of the Amou-deria. This assertion has nothing 

 impossible in it, as the countries of Khiva and Bokhara are very subject 

 to these natural convulsions: it is therefore quite possible that the Oxus 

 formerly divided into two branches north of Khiva, one falling into 

 the Caspian, and the other into the Aral : this, if correct, will reconcile 

 the conflicting opinions of geographers on this subject. 



The upper Amou-deria, or Zour-ab, near Dervazeh, is about 40 

 tois€s broad, and exceedingly rapid, till its junction with the Karateghin. 

 Gold dust is found in the sand; the banks are very high and precipitous, 

 and the bed obstructed with rocks, over which the stream foams with 

 great noise and force. We will leave to Mr. Elphinstone the task of 

 describing its source, as I heard nothing regarding it, which could be 

 depended on. 



The Sir-deria which has a course of about 1200 verstes or 800 miles, on- 

 ly becomes considerable after its junctioK with the Akboura, which runs 

 near to Tadj or Takht Suleiman, a mountain also called Och. Here its 



+ This river is expressly stated to have been turned by the Khivians, about the time 

 of the Russian expidition under Prince Bekevitch, in the reign of Peter the Great. The 

 troops were massacred or made slaves by the Usbecks ; from which time, the Russians 

 have constantly had in view the conquest or punishment of this state. I fully coincide 

 with those who assert that the Oxus once fell into the Caspian ; at least its principal 

 branch. An intimate friend of mine, Budeh Beg, who was in the service of Persia, and 

 subsequently entered that of the Khan of Khiva, considered it a point beyond dispute, 

 and asserted that, in high freshes, a part still look that direction. Should Russia occupy 

 permanentlj' that position, Khiva, I believe there will be no doubt of the Oxus being 

 again restored to its ancient bed, which will throw the whole of Tartary open to any 

 enterprize of hers, either warlike or mevcantile. —Translator, 



