612 
THE ROUTE PROM BALKAN TO KHIVA. 
the country on the north, there can be little 
doubt but the people who occupy the inter- 
mediate space will be disposed to unite in 
designs so perfectly in accordance with their 
restless spirit. A force would at once be 
collected from among them to form an 
.advance guard, and collect other adventurers 
for a crusade against the idols of Hindoo- 
stan. It is therefore presumed that the Rus- 
sians will find allies, and have the territorial 
resources at their disposal. Abundance of 
•carriage animals would thus be supplied for 
the purpose of transport across the desert 
which intervenes between the Caspian Sea, 
and Khiva on the border of the Oxus, or 
Amu river, and the next place of rendez- 
vous for the army. Pallas, an intelligent 
traveller, was informed that some individuals 
of the middle horde of Kirgees had 10,000 
horses, 300 camels, 300 or 400 sheep, and 
more than 2000 goats. 
The city of Khiva bears the name of a dis- 
trict, containing about 300,000 inhabitants, 
and stands in a cultivated space or oasis, 
about 100 miles square. This section of 
country is wmtered by canals from the Oxus, 
and is highly productive. The Russian 
envoy^ who visited it by the route from Bal- 
kan Bay in 1819, reports, that he considers 
the road between the Caspian and Khiva 
quite practicable, and that the latter place 
may be occupied without difficulty ” 
“ The route from the Bay of Balkan to 
Khiva goes over a country but scantily sup- 
plied with water, and the march was made 
by the Russian mission in the month of De- 
cember; the time occupied was sixteen days 
by caravan. They did not proceed more than 
twenty miles a day, but the regular march of 
trading caravans may be estimated at twelve 
or fourteen hours’ travelling, or at thirty or 
thirty-six miles per day. The distance from 
Mangushlac Bay to Khiva may be one-third 
more than from the Bay of Balkan to the 
latter place. Mr. Fraser says of the route, t 
(from Mangushlac to Khiva), “ five different 
persons, well acquainted with the country and 
trade, agreed in estimating it to me at about 
ten days’ journey of six farsangs each, or 
about 240 miles.” — “ The country is inha- 
bited by tribes of wandering Toorkomans. 
who pasture their flocks upon the steppes, 
and caravans continually pass and repass 
between Khiva and Mangushlac Bay ’’X 
A Russian force, marching by either of 
the above routes from the borders of the 
Caspian, would reach the Oxus in less time 
than a month, and it will be admitted, that, 
with proper arrangements, there is nothing 
in the performance of this march by detach- 
ments of troops to. render it impracticable, 
when it is considered that carriage animals 
may be procured to any required extent. 
On reaching Khiva, the army would have 
water communication with the Oxus, 
which passes fifteen miles from the city, and 
• Captain Mouravief. 
t Journey into Khorassan, by J. B. Fraser. 
t niid. 
by means of that river, intercourse would be 
opened with fertile countries that lie on its 
banks, and also with the sea of Aral, into 
which the Oxus empties itself about 150 
miles below Khiva. The traveller, from 
whom we have so often quoted in treating 
of the district of Khorassan, offers some 
remarks on the report of the Russian envoy, 
and thinks a force might not only capture, 
but retain Khiva. He says, “The Russians 
have long entertained commercial relations 
with Khiva, which they have sought to 
strengthen in various ways, and with various 
objects. The conquest of Khiva by the Rus- 
sians would, if they were to resolve on it, be 
an affair of no serious difficulty ; and, accord- 
ing to the present line of policy, the attempt 
will probably be made at no very remote 
period.’’* 
The performance of this march deserves 
every consideration, as will be seen when the 
remaining part of the route is investigated. 
If a Russian force should establish itself at 
Khiva, they would be enabled to pursue 
their further operations with the advantage 
of water carriage for the greatest portion of 
the way to India. On the sea of Aral, 
“ there are numerous large fishing boats 
employed by the natives/’f It does not appear 
from any account we can find of this territory 
what facility there may be of opening a com- 
munication to make these boats applicable to 
the operations under consideration. Boats 
and rafts are used on the Oxus for the pur- 
poses of traffic ; and it is mentioned by tra- 
vellers, whom we shall hereafter quote, that 
wood may be had on parts of this river. A 
want of correct information on these import- 
ant points must render the enquiry into this 
route one of much doubt, and prevents the 
possibility of our coming to a satisfactory 
conclusion as to its accomplishment in a 
definite time. Like the Indus, and other 
rivers that have their source in high moun- 
tains. the Oxus must have a considerable 
current. Its navigation is said to be carried 
on by tracking ; but it must vary at all sea- 
sons, find be liable to the uncertainty that has 
been stated to govern the progress of boats 
on the Nile.” 
“ Balkh lies on the north side of the range 
of mountains that divides Tartary from Hin- 
doostan. The time taken to perform the 
voyage from .Bokhara to this place is said 
to be five days, making the voyage from 
Khiva to Balkh to be altogether one of thir- 
teen days. It has already been remarked that 
the distance by the river is but imperfectly 
known, but it is not likely to exceed a line of 
700 miles, which, at the rate of advance that 
has been set down for an army, would take 
about two months. 
Before we leave the banks of the Oxus, it 
will be proper to observe that the imperfect 
knowledge we have of that stream, in all 
probability, leads to our selection of a route 
far less advantageous than some other that 
* Journey into Khorrassau, by J. B. Fraser, 
t Evans. 
