1839 J 



Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. 



133 



TRANSLATION. 



BOOK FIRST. 

 Chapter I. 



Preparations for the journey — -Departure— "Dangers on the roach 



The persons attached to the embassy to Bokhara arrived at Orenbourg 

 in the course of the month of August. About the same time, an order 

 was given by general D'Essen, military governor of Orenbourg, for the 

 Cossack soldiers andBaschires intended to form the escort : but the party 

 could not be assembled before the middle of September, and the fine 

 season was passed away. From economical motives, we had at first 

 intended to use carts for the carriage of provisions, &c,j but we were 

 obliged to give up this plan, from the information we received of the 

 nature of the country, through which we had to pass, and we determined 

 to substitute camels to carry the baggage, and merely to take 25 carts 

 for the transport of any of the people who might fall sick or meet with 

 accidents by the way. Each cart was drawn by four horses, driven by a 

 Baschire. As we had to cross rivers in the steppe of Kirghiz, we were 

 provided with two boats placed upon carts — the carts being so construct- 

 ed, that, by fixing them upon the boats, they formed rafts capable of 

 bearing 20 men. 



Our march in the desert being likely to last two months, it was necessary 

 to carry about 500-lbs. of biscuits for each soldier, and 5 quintals of oats 

 for each horse ; besides meal for the people, a double allotment of 

 ammunition for our two pieces of artillery, 15 kabitkas,or felt tents, 200 

 casks for carrying water across the desert, and several barrels of brandy. 

 320 camels we loaded with the provisions, &c.for the escort, and 38 with 

 the baggage and provisions of the ambassador's suite. The military 

 governor had made arrangements with the Kirghiz chiefs, that, upon the 

 payment of 110 paper roubles (about £4 lOs.general exchange, 25 to the 

 £ sterling, the 358 camels we required, were to be at the gates of 

 Orenbourg on the 6th of September ready, each to carry a burden of 

 640-lbs. The long wished for day came, but not one Kirghiz appeared. 

 The market of Orenbourg was unable to provide us with the quantity of 

 oats indispensable for our escort, and we were therefore obliged 

 to dispatch messengers to seek it in the surrounding country 

 that is to say, 150 verstes from Orenbourg, and we did not obtain it till 

 20th September. 



