154 Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. [July- 



Chapter V. 



Passage of the Sir — Bridge 'of reeds — Hunting the wild-boar — Ruins — 

 Drying up of the Djan-deria — Route passed — Kizil-coum — Plunder. 



In the month of Jane, the melting of the snow on the great range of 

 Aba-tagh, swells the waters of the Sir-deria,and overflows the lands on 

 each side, which are so greatly fertilized by it, that grain is produced 

 with very little trouble. Fruit trees, willows, plane trees, also thrive, 

 and it appears capable even of producing the silk-mulberry and cotton. 

 At the time of our journey, (he river was frozen, and we crossed it with 

 the greatest precaution. The ice gave way after the passage of our two 

 guns. A camel even broke it with his weight, and was got out with the 

 greatest difficulty. The Kirghiz burnt bundles of reeds, and spread the 

 ashes on the ice, to prevent the camels sliding. At last, after much noise 

 and quarrelling, we passed the Sir, so celebrated in antiquity under the 

 name of the Jaxartes. 



On our return in the month of April, the passage was much more slow 

 and difficult. Two boats which we carried with us served as a raft to 

 transport our artillery— the horses were swam over. Three large Kirghiz 

 boats used to ferry over caravans, served to transport our provisions, 

 on the payment of a trifling sum. These boats were built of the wood of 

 the poplar, without iron, and very frail ; they had been brought from 

 Khiva by the lake of Aral. A water communication exists between 

 Khiva and the Sir, used by the poorer Kirghiz, as a simple coasting 

 trade. The boats are sometimes brought from Turkestan, where they 

 are dearer than at Khiva. 



The camels were swam over, and it was a singular sight to see ten or 

 twelve of these animals tied together, and directed by naked Kirghiz of 

 the most athletic forms ; sometimes they held hard on the camels, or 

 swam by them shouting to encourage the beasts. They continued this 

 work nearly a whole day, three camels were drowned, but brought on 

 shore, and having their throats cut with the usual Mahomedan ceremony 

 were eaten by the by-sfanders. 



In swimming, the camel leans on one side, so as to present a greater 

 surface to the water; his hump appears to assist him, and is always near- 

 ly covered with water. The passage of the river on our return kept us 

 two whole days. 



On our march towards Bokhara, we crossed the Kouwaw-deria with 

 great ease, the ice being sufficiently strong. It is a branch of the Sir, 

 very rapid, and the banks covered with reeds; it may be about 20 or 30 

 yards broad, and from 5 to 10 feet deep, the water is particularly clear. 



On our return we halted at a part of the same river (Kouwan-deria) 



