158 



Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. 



[July 



Kirghiz of the western side of the steppe who carry cattle to the markets 

 of Bokhara, they take care to cross the Kizil-coum at the narrowest 

 part and on their return, they provide themselves with water from the 

 famous well of Boukhan,situated at the southern extremity of the desert. 



The hanks of the Djan-deria form a line of distinction in the nature 

 of the country between Orenbourg and Bokhara ; the clay, without be- 

 ing more productive, on account of the dryness of the climate, is much 

 stronger j and the soil here rests on argillaceous rocks, whilst those 

 of the steppe have for a base sandstone or lime. 



The climate also is very different - . Land tortoises, rare to the north of 

 the Djan-deria, are very common in the Kizil-coum; very little snow falls 

 during the winter, and it never remains long upon the ground, so 

 that every thing denotes a warm climate. The banks of the Kouwan, 

 and the Djan-deria are inhabited, principally in the neighbourhood 

 of the sea of Aral, by some Kirghiz tributary to Khiva. 



The barrenness however, is perfectly astonishing ; from the Djan-de- 

 ria, to the place where cultivation recommences, not a single river is to 

 be met with in a space of 500 verstes, and water is only to be obtained 

 from wells— sometimes abundant, sometimes the reverse ; but in gene- 

 ral containing brackish water. 



At the spot where we crossed the Kizil-coum, it was 100 verstes wide* 

 Its length is very considerable — for it extends from the Sir-deria, where 

 it is much wider, to the sea of Aral and to the Amou-deria. This desert 

 is remarkable for its sterility. Spring water is no where to be met with. 

 It is said that there w r ere formerly three wells near the road which we 

 followed,and that they were filled up to prevent their being resorted to by 

 the robbers, who generally remained in ambush among the surrounding 

 hills. The robbers have actually been expelled from the Kizil-coum, 

 but they at present hide in the ravines of the Bokhara mountains, and 

 when they feel themselves strong enough,. fall upon the travellers pass- 

 ing that way — pillage, and sometimes kill them, if they make any re- 

 sistance. 



The well of Boukhan, is at present as dangerous as the Kizil-coum used 

 to be; particularly as it is the part of the road between Bokhara and 

 Orenbourg, that is nearest to Khiva, and the Khivians are constantly on 

 bad terms with the Bokharians, or the Kirghiz, or sometimes, as in the 

 year 1820, with both at the same time. Our party therefore was on the 

 alert, and patroles were sent into the denies of the Boukhan — fortunate, 

 ly we achieved this dangerous passage without any accident — but 10 

 days afterwards a caravan of Bokharians and Kirghiz, was pillaged by 



