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)

26

PRECARIOUS SITUATION. chap. hi.

better be told; for, if I have reason to doubt any
of you, I will examine them, and you will then ex-
perience the wrath of the Khan of Orgunje, my
lord and master. This speech was listened to with
terror; some, I believe, actually said that they had
more goods than they really possessed; and, as far
as I could judge, no one deviated from the truth.
Pen and ink were called for, and the congress pro-
ceeded to make a list of the merchandise, which
was no easy matter.

While the merchants were disputing about tillas,
and nattering the Yooz-bashee, we had taken up a
quiet position, and even pretended to be wrapped in
sleep. I never was more awake in my life, and was
near enough to hear and see every thing. Several
questions were put regarding us, and the principal
merchants spoke with earnestness and kindness.
We had never instructed them, but they now chose
to denominate us Hindoos from Cabool, who were
proceeding on a pilgrimage to the flames of Bakoo, on
the Caspian. We had been successively Englishmen,
Afghans, Uzbeks, Armenians, and Jews, and they
now denominated us Hindoos. These people are
very simple ; nor do they ever interrogate closely.
Shortly after the subject of our character and
objects had been discussed, the Toorkmun Aksukal
rose from the party, and most unwelcomely seated
himself by us. " Aksukal," as I have said, means
white beard, though this personage had a black
enough plumage to his chin: he wore a splendid
scarlet pelisse, and never did our national uniform
appear to me more formidable than on his person ;

i