TASHKEND TO MARGELAN 
75 
tarantass was the ammunition. When I opened the two 
cases in which it was packed a sorry sight met my eyes. 
'I'he paper cases of two or three hundred cartridges were 
ground to powder, and the tin boxes in which they had 
been packed were crumpled together like paper. That 
none of the many sharp corners had struck a cap, and 
caused a serious explosion, was little short of a miracle ; 
my journey would then have had a speedier conclusion 
and a different termination. Having put the ammunition 
KIRGHIZ YURTS (TENTS) IN TASHKEND 
in order again, and made it up to the original amount, I 
had it all re-packed. 
Lastly, I had a great deal of shopping to do. I laid in 
a stock of tinned provisions, tea, cocoa, cheese, tobacco, 
etc. suffiaent to last several months ; 1 also bought sundry 
small articles, such as revolvers, and the ammunition for 
them clocks, compasses, musical-boxes, field-glasses, 
kaleidoscopes, microscopes, silver cups, ornaments, cloth, 
etc., all intended as presents for the Kirghiz, Chinese, and 
Mongols. In the interior of Asia textiles almost take the 
place of current coin ; for a few yards of ordinary cotton 
material you may buy a horse or provisions to last a 
whole caravan several days. Finally, on the special 
