DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0180
164
THE RIVER OXUS.
BOOK I.
surface, while further south it is not to be had
nearer than 100 fathoms. The water of the Aral
in some places is drinkable. It is seldom frozen in
winter. In one of its many islands they relate
some tales of a colony that passed over the ice with
their herds and flocks, and has since had no op-
portunity of returning. The banks of the Aral are
peopled by wandering tribes, who cultivate great
quantities of wheat and other grain, which, with
fish, that are caught in abundance, form their food.
The neighbourhood of the Aral is not frequented
by caravans.
The Oxus is a navigable river throughout the
greater portion of its course. Its channel is re-
markably straight, and free from rocks, rapids, and
whirlpools; nor is it much obstructed by sand-
banks : were it not for the marshes which choke its
embouchure, it might be ascended from the sea of
Aral to near Koondooz ; a distance of 600 miles.
If we deduct the extent of that delta, commencing
some way below Orgunje, which does not exceed
fifty miles, we have still an inland line of navigation
of 550 miles. The volume of water which this
river discharges appears great for the short extent
of its course, but it is the only drain of a wide and
mountainous country. It is never fordable after
it has received the rivers of Koondooz and Ta-
lighan, which join it under the name of Aksurai,
below Huzrut Imam : these rivers are fed by the
melted snow on the northern side of the great
Hindoo Koosh. It may then be passed below that
place (Huzrut Imam) for six months of the year,
THE RIVER OXUS.
BOOK I.
surface, while further south it is not to be had
nearer than 100 fathoms. The water of the Aral
in some places is drinkable. It is seldom frozen in
winter. In one of its many islands they relate
some tales of a colony that passed over the ice with
their herds and flocks, and has since had no op-
portunity of returning. The banks of the Aral are
peopled by wandering tribes, who cultivate great
quantities of wheat and other grain, which, with
fish, that are caught in abundance, form their food.
The neighbourhood of the Aral is not frequented
by caravans.
The Oxus is a navigable river throughout the
greater portion of its course. Its channel is re-
markably straight, and free from rocks, rapids, and
whirlpools; nor is it much obstructed by sand-
banks : were it not for the marshes which choke its
embouchure, it might be ascended from the sea of
Aral to near Koondooz ; a distance of 600 miles.
If we deduct the extent of that delta, commencing
some way below Orgunje, which does not exceed
fifty miles, we have still an inland line of navigation
of 550 miles. The volume of water which this
river discharges appears great for the short extent
of its course, but it is the only drain of a wide and
mountainous country. It is never fordable after
it has received the rivers of Koondooz and Ta-
lighan, which join it under the name of Aksurai,
below Huzrut Imam : these rivers are fed by the
melted snow on the northern side of the great
Hindoo Koosh. It may then be passed below that
place (Huzrut Imam) for six months of the year,