76 



Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Sokliara* 



It is afterwards necessary to travel 40 verstes, through a mounta- 

 inous country, to reach the three forts of Bikala, or Gherdnn-Divani ; 

 after half a day's journey, through a gently undulating country, 

 the sources of the Ser-tchechmeh* are attained. They form a 

 large basin, and rhe oriental travellers, wlio are all lovers of the mar- 

 vellous, record that it is inhabited by miraculous fishes, with pearls in 

 their noses, and which occasion the death of any person attempting to 

 catch them. This is the real frontier of Afghanistan ; Caboul is at the 

 distance of nine farsohJcs, or about seventy verstes. 



This route was communicated to me by a merchant, who had travelled 

 at least thirty times from Bokhara to Caboul ; it shews the distance 

 from Balkh to this last town to be 392 verstes, and it takes the caravans 

 twelve days to perform ihe journey. The Ouzbeks extend along- this 

 route beyond Bamian. The mountainous country just before reaching 

 Gherdan-Divani is inhabited by Kezareh ; and after passing this for- 

 tress the country of the Afghans commences. 



I shall only detain the reader by a few words regarding the princes of 

 Afghanistan. Kamran, governor of Herat, is the son of Mahmoud 

 Shah ; this latter was king of the country and had a vizier named 

 Fatih'khan, a man belonging to one of the principal families, and had 

 seventeen brothers, the eldest of whom Mehemed-Azim-khan was 

 governor of Cashmere. 



Kamran, jealous of the power of his vizier, induced him to come to 

 Herat, and then put him to death. This atrocious action, which took 

 place in 1819, was the signal of a general revolt in favour of the fa- 

 mily of the vizier. 



Mahmoud, forced to fly from Caboul, took refuge at Herat, having 

 there established a state independent of Afghanistan. Mehemed-Azim- 

 khan hastened to Caboul, installed himself there as prime vizier, and 

 left nothing but the empty title of shah to a relation of Mahmoud- 

 khan. 



Perhaps the English are not altogether ignorant of these internal 

 dissensions, which greatly weaken Afghanistan ; on the other hand, its 

 inhabitants, divided into parties, might easily fall into the hands of the 

 shah of Persia, and under him become a formidable and powerful 

 neighbour to Hindoostan.t 



* In Persian Sir-nheshma or head of the springs.-- Translator. 

 + It is singular that two of the members of General Yermaloff 's mission should have 

 almost immediatelj' on his return been despatched into Tartary ; General Nigirey a 

 Greek and Turkish interpreter to Bokhara ; also Captain (now general) Mouravieff to 

 Khiva, who both point out this as a route by which the British in India might be 

 ttr«atened, if not Attacked.— Translator, 



