Travels Into Bokhara (Volume 2 of 3) Being the Account of A Journey from India to Cabool, Tartary, and Persia; Also, Narrative of a Voyage on the Indus, From the Sea to Lahore, With Presents From the King of Great Britain; Performed Under the Orders of the Supreme Government of India, in the Years 1831, 1832, and 1833

CHAPTER XII.

Chapter 1336 wordsPublic domain

JOURNEY IN THE DESERT OF THE TOORKMUNS.

Page

Journey to the Oxus.--Sand Hills.--Freezing of the Oxus.--Meanness of native Traders.--The Oxus.--Oxus of Alexander’s Historians.--Charjooee: its Bazar.--The Desert.--Slaves.--The Caravan.--Well of Balghooee.--Dangers of the Desert.--Seerab.--Camel’s Milk--An eastern Caravan.--Oochghooee and wandering Toorkmuns.--Ruins of Castles.--Moorghab.--Remarks on the Desert.--A Toorkmun Camp.--Orgunje Officers.--Precarious Situation 1-34

CHAP. XIII.

CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNEY IN THE TOORKMUN DESERT.

River of Merve.--Amusements.--Knights and Heroines of Merve.--Alarm.--Toorkmuns: their Laws of Plunder.--Training of the Horses.--Reflections.--Meeting of the Caravan.--Claims against us.--Continuation of the Desert.--Whirlwinds.--The High Lands of Persia.--Mirage.--Plants of the Desert.--Allamans.--Unsuccessful Party.--Arrival at Shurukhs.--Detention.--Alarms.--Dissipation of them.--Toorkmun Customs.--Fortitude of a Slave.--Toorkmun Song.--Toorkmun House.--Mode of Feasting.--Success of the Allamans.--Inconveniences.--Mad Camel.--Departure from Shurukhs.--Increased Caravan.--Entrance into Persia.--Moozderan or Durbund.--Approach to Meshid.--Tarantulla.--Adventure.--Ghoozkan Slaves.--Troubled Country 35-75

CHAP. XIV.

KHORASAN.

Arrival in Meshid.--Interview with Khoosrou Meerza.--Meshid described.--Shrine of Imam Ruza.--Grave of Nadir Shah.--Illumination.--Departure from Meshid.--Koochan.--Camp of the Prince.--European Officers.--Abbas Meerza.--Interview.-- Acquaintances.---Future Plans.--Separation from Dr. Gerard 76-99

CHAP. XV.

JOURNEY AMONG THE TOORKMUNS OF THE CASPIAN.

Departure from Koochan.--Atruck River.--Boojnoord.--Toorkmun Discipline.--Travelling in Khorasan.--Tribe of Gireilee.--Toorkmun Acquaintance.--Running down Partridges.--Toorkmun Bard.--Goklan Toorkmuns.--Their Customs.---Toorkmuns of the Caspian.--Toorkmun Patriarch.--Noble Scenery.--Toorkmun national Songs.--Quit the Country of the Toorkmuns.--Arrival at Astrabad.--Plague.--Arrival on the Caspian.--Adventures.-- Gardens of Ushruff.--Fortunate Escape.--The Plague.--Quit the Caspian.--Mazenderan.--Peasantry 100-127

CHAP. XVI.

JOURNEY THROUGH PERSIA.--CONCLUSION OF THE NARRATIVE.

Quit Mazenderan.--Pass of Gudook.--Gudook the “Pylæ Caspiæ.”--Feerozkoh.--Cure for the Taste of Quinine.--A Koord.--Vexations of a Traveller.--Arrival at Tehran.--Presentation to the Shah.--Return to India.--Route to the Coast.--Quit Persia.--Conclusion 128-142