1839] Russian Mission from, Orenbourg to Bokhara. 135 



In fact, the dangers to be apprehended were sufficiently numerous : it 

 was very possible, that the Kirghiz, always greedy of plunder, and un- 

 willing that the Russians should explore these deserts, might attack us 

 during the night, nor was this fear without foundation, for not far from 

 Sir-deria in 1803, Lieutenant Gaverdvosky was attacked by the Kirghiz. 

 He himself escaped after the most obstinate resistance, but his wife, 

 his physician, and the fourth of his escort fell into the hands of the 

 savages. Even supposing the Kirghiz did not dare to attack so numerous 

 a party, they still had it in their power greatly to increase the difficulty 

 of our journey, nay, even render it impossible for us to go on, by burn- 

 ing the grass and reeds on the steppe through which we had to pass. 

 Another very usual species of attack among those tribes is by steal- 

 ing nearly all the horses, when grazing at night, carrying ofFa 

 number of them with incredible celerity. These sort of attacks are 

 greatly to be dreaded, as a small band of robbers might occasion us 

 irreparable injury, if they surprized us from the negligence of our 

 sentinels. 



General D'Essen, who foresaw all these dangers, gladly accepted an 

 offer made by the powerful Sultan, Haroun-ghazi Aboul-ghazi, of accom- 

 panying the embassy as far as the Sir-deria, with a party of a few hun- 

 dred faithful Kirghiz. The effect this offer would have upon the minds 

 of the Kirghiz, greatly enhanced the value of the offer in the general's 

 eyes. 



The Khivians who occupy a part of the country to the south of the 

 sea of Aral, were however much more to be feared than even the Kirghiz, 

 as they are no less skilful, and more united; sometimes making preda- 

 tory excursions in bodies of from 4000 to 5000 men. Though a party 

 of horse like these would not give much cause of alarm to our soldiers, 

 the escort would still not be sufficiently strong to defend a troop of 700 

 camels, including those of the Bokharian merchants who had placed 

 themselves under our protection. 



The cunning displayed by the predatory tribes in plundering the cara- 

 vans, increases the difficulty of defence. Their attacks are always very 

 sudden, and unexpected. They terrify the camels by shouts and yells, 

 and the animals once dispersed, easily fall in their power. The best way 

 of preventing so dangerous a disorder is, by making the camels crouch 

 down, as they do not willingly rise again, but often there is not time to 

 take these precautions — and then the caravan is certainly lost ; for 

 being without camels in the steppe of the Kirghiz, is attended with the 

 most imminent danger, and often with the loss of life. 



It was very possible, that it was not during the journey alone we 

 were exposed to danger ; we might well feel doubts of our safety in 



