164 Russian Mission from Orenlourg to Bokhara. [July 



our two pieces of artillery to the khan ; when he found he was unable 

 to obtain them, he did not hesitate to ask for M. de Negri's carriage for 

 his master ; yet he was not ignorant that we had several camels loaded 

 with presents for the Court of Bokhara. 



The Couch-beglii might have been about 50 years old, his long dark 

 brown beard was beginning to turn grey. He was tall, the expression of 

 his countenance pleasing and benevolent. He spoke with great ease in 

 Persian, wore a white Cashmere shawl for a turban, a khilaut of the 

 same material, figured with large flowers,and a sable pelisse, covered with 

 striped cashmere. 



Our journey had been as pleasant as we could have wished. With 

 the exception of some foggy days, and a few hours of snowy weather or 

 drizzling rain, the weather had been generally so fine, that the Kirghiz 

 said we had doubtless a saint in our party. This continued fine weather, 

 rendered our march much easier, by preserving us from all the discom- 

 forts that would have been caused by rain, snow and cold. 



We passed the night of the 17th of December, near a small town, called 

 Wafkend, after passing through a well-cultivated and populous country, 

 the same flourishing appearance continued the following day, when we 

 arrived at Bazartchi, a large town about two verstes from Bokhara. We 

 had travelled 40 verstes since our interview with the Couch-beghi, and 

 during the two last days we were constantly surrounded by a crowd of 

 people. The police were constantly driving them off with their sticks, 

 the most inquisitive allowed themselves to be beaten, fled and then re- 

 turned to the charge. Our soldiers marched in the greatest order, they 

 were in complete uniform, and the beat of their drums, which was heard 

 every now and then, caused exclamations of astonishment from the 

 crowd. We pursued our course in the midst of tumult, and public marks 

 of the joy excited by our arrival. 



Near Wafkend, four chiefs paid a complimentary visit toMonsr. Negri, 

 delivering a letter of congratulation from the khan. One was a relation 

 of this prince, but did not understand a word of Persian, he was the only 

 Ouzbek 1 saw, who did not speak that language. Two others were 

 slaves of the khan; one an Afghan, the other a Persian, the latter was 

 simply dressed in a cloak made of camel wool, the others in rich dresses 

 of gold and red silk. 



About 15 verstes from Bokhara, the chief of the Iassaoul, with about 

 30 of his men, came to meet the ambassador, and accompanied us to Ba- 

 zartchi, where we were lodged in a house belonging to the Couch-beghi; 

 the rooms were so damp, we preferred sleeping in our kibitkas, not- 

 withstanding the strong inclination we had to quit them. 



