132 Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. 



[July 



VI. — Journey of the Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara.* — ' 

 Translated by Colonel Monteith, k„ l. s. Chief Engineer of the 

 Madras Army. 



To the Secretary to the Madras Literary Society, 



and Auxiliary Royal Asiatic Society- 

 Sir,' — I have the pleasure to send you a translation of theJourney of the 

 Russian mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara, during the years 1820 and 

 1821. The author, Baron MeyendOrff, attached to theRussian embassy, 

 gives also some account of the different states in Tartary, which it had 

 been my intention to translate also ; but the map, without which it would 

 be unintelligible, has unfortunately been mislaid: the remainder is 

 therefoie deferred till a future period. 



I have never seen another copy of this work in India, and very few 

 in England, though containing much useful and novel information, and 

 giving the route from the Russian frontier to those of Captain Burnes 

 and others to Bokhara. This, with Colonel Maravielle's route from the 

 Caspian to Khiva, completes the different lines of road, by which a force 

 may attempt to reach Afghanistan. 



The route now described, appears almost impracticable for an army, 

 which would, in my opinion, follow the banks of the Lake of Aral, on 

 which the provisions and heavy baggage might be conveyed. This 

 project I have heard discussed in high military circles in Russia : the 

 object then was to chastise theKhivians for their depredations on Rus- 

 sian subjects, which was expected to be immediately carried into execu- 

 tion. In fact 1000 Yaik Cossacks actually established themselves on an 

 island, at the mouth of the Oxus, and only returned in compliance with 

 the orders of the Russian government. There are still two other land 

 routes from the Russian frontier, but not so favourable as the one 

 directly on the east bank of the Aral lake ; viz. round the western and 

 southern shore, and the second along the ea^t coast of the Caspian Sea : 

 they have long been known, and passed by many travellers, who have 

 given their journals to the public, consequen'Iy do not require notice at 

 present. 



I have the honor to be, 



Yours most obediently, 



"Wm. Monteith. 



Madras, 2dth August, 1839. 



* Voyage cf Orenbourg a Boulihara, fait en 1620, a trarers les steppes qui s' etendent a Vest 

 de la mer d' Aral et au-dela de I'ancien Jaxartes ; Redige j/ar M. le Baron Georges de 

 Meyendohff, Colonel a l'etat major de S. M. l'Empereur de toutes les Russies ; et reKU 

 far M. le Chevalier Amedeb Jaubert, &c,— Paris, 1826. 



