1840 J Busstan Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. 7T 



The Seiks took advantage of the absence of Mehemed-Azim-kban to 

 possess themselves of Cashmere, and this gallant people now reign in 

 the beautiful valley of Sirinaghor. 



The route usually pursued from Bokhara, to the city of Herat, con- 

 taining about 4000 houses, passes by Kirki upon the Amou and by Ankoi. 

 The country along this route is only cultivated to the distance of 

 twenty-five verstes from Bokhara. The steppe there commences, in 

 which the Kirghiz who accompanied us graze their camels. 



After having travelled about 150 verstes, we passed Carchi on the 

 left, and arrived at Kirki. The principal routes from the Amou to 

 Herat pass by this place, and Tchardjoui: double the extents of sandy 

 plain is crossed by taking the road from Tchardjoui to Mawri, or Meer, 

 as in going by Aukoi and Kirki, a small fort, containing 100 houses, 

 and surrounded by a wall with battlements and a ditch. 



It is said that the Amou at this spot is more than 200 toises broad» 

 and four or five deep ; its banks are rocky, very steep, and about three 

 or four toises high. 



Ankoi is a large and independent town, containing about 4000 houses, 

 inhabited by a small number of Oazbeks and few Tadjiks, and a great 

 many Arabs. 



A small river runs by this city; it dries up in the summer, and the 

 inhabitants are obliged to dig wells to procure water. Ankoi is about 

 100 verstes from Balkh, and 120 from Kirki. From Ankoi to Meimaneh 

 the distance is about eighty verstes. There are a few villages in this 

 road, Meimaneh is a town containing about 1000 houses, and inhabited by 

 Ouzbeks, who resume their wandering habits during the summer sea- 

 son ; they are confirmed robbers, pillaging the caravans ; and are fre- 

 quently at war with their neighbours, make incursions into Khorassan^ 

 and carrying their prisoners to the slave market at Bokhara. 



Beyond Meimaneh and as far as Herat, the country is mountainous ; 

 but contains some roads practicable for artillery. From Meimaneh they 

 count about sixty verstes, to Mourghab, a river six toises wide, whose 

 banks are rocky. It is only on the banks of this river that some willow 

 and poplar trees are ever found ; on all the rest of the route there are 

 nothing but bushes and pistachio trees, the latter in great abundance* 



The Eimaks and the lalountouches wander among these raountains» 

 rand along the side of the Mourghab ; they are Mahomedans of the Sun- 

 i nie sect, and speak Persian ; their features more resemble those of the 

 Tartars than the Ouzbeks ; they inhabit about 3000 felt tents, or kibitkas 

 and are greatly addicted to pillage. If a small caravan has occasion to 

 pass through this country, it is necessary to obtain the protection of one 



