Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 3) (London, 1835)

22

THE DESERT.

CHAP. XII.

transported with us from the Oxus was not less nau-
seous than the water of the desert; for it must be
carried in skins, and these must be oiled to preserve
them from bursting. The grease mixed with the
water, which latterly became so tainted that the
horses even refused to drink it. There is nothing of
which we feel the want so much as good water. In the
march, several people of the caravan, particularly the
camel-drivers, were attacked with inflammation of
the eyes; I suppose, from the sand, glare, and dust.
With such an enumeration of petty vexations and
physical obstacles, it is dubious if an army could
cross the desert at this point. The heavy sandy
pathways, for there are no roads, might certainly
be rendered passable to guns, by placing brushwood
on the sand: but there is a great scarcity of grass
for cattle ; and the few horses which accompanied
the caravan were jaded and worn out before they
reached the river. A horse which travels with a
camel has great injustice done to him; but an army
could not outstrip the motions of a caravan, and
fatigues would still fall heavily upon them. History
tells us, that many armies have fought in and
crossed this desert; but they consisted of hordes of
light cavalry, that could move with rapidity. It is
to be remembered, that we had not a foot-passenger
in our party. Light horse might pass such a desert,
by divisions, and separate routes; for besides the
high road to Merve, there is a road both to the east
and the west. It would, at all times, be a difficult
task for a great body of men to pass from the Moor-
ghab to the Oxus, since our caravan, of eighty