DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0037
CHAP. XII. THE DESERT./ 21
in the company of camel drivers and slaves, braving
the sun, though I cannot say to the detriment of
our already sun-burned complexions. It was now
discovered that the Orgunje camp lay on the other
side of the river, which was not fordable but in cer-
tain places ; and the merchants decided that they
themselves, with all the Cafila-bashees, should forth-
with proceed in person to the spot, and use their
utmost' to conciliate the officer in charge, for the
Khan had returned within these few days to Khiva.
Their great object seemed to be to effect a dis-
charge of the duties in the spot where they were
now encamped, since no one wished to trust their
property within reach of an Orgunje detachment.
If the party prayed for success, I can add that we
were equally fervent, and the deputation accordingly
set out with the good wishes of every one. We
were left among the " oi polloi" of the caravan; and
when night came, stretched our felts under a clear
and cloudless sky, and slept without fear or anxiety
from our man-selling neighbours. This state of
security among such people and countries is very
remarkable ; but a Toorkmun, though he can engage
in a foray, and execute it with unexampled address,
cannot commit a theft in a quiet way, which is not
congenial to his nature.
I have now a little leisure to speak of the desert
which we had traversed on our route to the Moor-
ghab. In a military point of view, the scarcity of
water is a great obstacle. In some places the wells
were thirty-six miles apart; and, generally, the water
was both bitter and scanty. That which we had
c 3
in the company of camel drivers and slaves, braving
the sun, though I cannot say to the detriment of
our already sun-burned complexions. It was now
discovered that the Orgunje camp lay on the other
side of the river, which was not fordable but in cer-
tain places ; and the merchants decided that they
themselves, with all the Cafila-bashees, should forth-
with proceed in person to the spot, and use their
utmost' to conciliate the officer in charge, for the
Khan had returned within these few days to Khiva.
Their great object seemed to be to effect a dis-
charge of the duties in the spot where they were
now encamped, since no one wished to trust their
property within reach of an Orgunje detachment.
If the party prayed for success, I can add that we
were equally fervent, and the deputation accordingly
set out with the good wishes of every one. We
were left among the " oi polloi" of the caravan; and
when night came, stretched our felts under a clear
and cloudless sky, and slept without fear or anxiety
from our man-selling neighbours. This state of
security among such people and countries is very
remarkable ; but a Toorkmun, though he can engage
in a foray, and execute it with unexampled address,
cannot commit a theft in a quiet way, which is not
congenial to his nature.
I have now a little leisure to speak of the desert
which we had traversed on our route to the Moor-
ghab. In a military point of view, the scarcity of
water is a great obstacle. In some places the wells
were thirty-six miles apart; and, generally, the water
was both bitter and scanty. That which we had
c 3