Travels in Central Asia Part 34

There is a route through the desert without touching Bokhara. At Shurakhan, one leaves the Khanat of Khiva, and reaches Khodjend ordinarily in from ten to twelve days inclusive. The journey may, however, be shortened by turning off to Dj.i.z.zak. This was the route taken by Conolly in company of a Khokandi prince, whom he had met in Khiva.

5. _From Khiva to Kungrat and the Sh.o.r.e of the Aral Sea._

From To Tash or Farsz Khiva Yenghi Urgendj 4 Yenghi Urgendj Gorlen 6 Gorlen Yenghi Yap 3 Yenghi Yap Khitai 3 Khitai Manghit 4 Manghit Kiptchak 1 Kiptchak Kamli 2 Kamli Khodja Ili 22 (desert) Khodja Ili Kungrat 4 Kungrat Hekim Ata 4 Hekim Ata Tchortangol 5 Tchortangol Bozatav 10 Bozatav Sh.o.r.e of the Sea 5

Making together 73 Tash, a distance which, when the way is not in bad condition, may be travelled in twelve stations.

6. _From Khiva to Kungrat, by Kohne._

From To Tash or Farsz.

Khiva Gazavat 3 Gazavat Tashhaus 7 Tashhaus Koktcheg 2 Koktcheg Kizil Takir 7 Kizil Takir Porsu 6 Porsu Kohne Urgendj 9 Kohne Urgendj Khodja Ili 6

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And thence to Kungrat, as already mentioned, there are four Tash, making together 44 Tash, a nearer way, consequently, than the one by Gorlen, but less eligible and less frequented. First, it is not safe; and secondly, it is wearisome, on account of the desert and the route itself.

7. _From Khiva to Fitnek._

From To Tash or Farsz.

Khiva Sheikh Mukhtar 3 Sheikh Mukhtar Bagat 3 Bagat Ishantchepe 2 Ishantchepe Hezaresp 2 Hezaresp Fitnek 6 16

Adding to this number the 73 already given in the sum of the distances in route marked (5), we see that the greatest distance traversed by the Oxus in the Khanat is not more than 89 Tash or Farszakhs.

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B.

ROUTES IN THE KHANAT OF BOKHARA AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY.

1. _From Bokhara to Herat._

From To Tash or Farsz.

Bokhara Khoshrobat 3 Khoshrobat Tekender 5 Tekender Tchertchi 5 Tchertchi Karahindi 5 Karahindi Kerki 7 Kerki Zeid (Well) 8 Zeid Andkhuy 10 Andkhuy Batkak 5 Batkak Maymene 8 Maymene Kaisar 4 Kaisar Narin 6 Narin Chikektu 6 Chikektu Kale Veli 6 Kale Veli Murgab 4 Murgab Derbend 3 Derbend Kale No 8 Kale No Sertcheshme 9 Sertcheshme Herat 6 Total 108

This distance can be travelled on horseback in from 20 to 25 days.

2. _From Bokhara to Merv._

The traveller must here first go to Tchardjuy, from which city there are three different routes.

(_a_) By Rafatak. There is one well, and its distance is 45 Farszakhs.

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(_b_) By utchhadji. Two wells, and distance 40 Farszakhs.

(_c_) By Yolkuyu. This is the route most to the east; the distance is 50 Farszakhs.

3. _From Bokhara to Samarcand (usual road)._

From To Farsz. Parasangs Bokhara Mezar 5 Mezar Kermine R. 6 Kermine R. Mir 6 Mir Kette Kurgan 5 Kette Kurgan Daul 6 Daul Samarcand 4 32

This journey is performed by two-wheeled loaded carts in six days.

Mounted on a good horse, one may accomplish it in three: the couriers take but two days, but they travel night and day.

4. _From Samarcand to Kerki._

From To Farsz.

Samarcand Robati Haus 3 Robati Haus Nayman 6 Nayman Shurkuduk 4 Shurkuduk Kars.h.i.+ 5 Kars.h.i.+ Feizabad 2 Feizabad Sengsulak 6 Sengsulak Kerki 6 32

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5._From Samarcand to Khokand by Khodjend._

From To Farsz.

Samarcand Yenghi Kurgan 3 Yenghi Kurgan Dj.i.z.zag 4 Dj.i.z.zag Zamin 5 Zamin Djam 4 Djam Savat 4 Savat Oratepe 2 Oratepe Nau 4 Nau Khodjend 4 Khodjend Karaktchik.u.m 4 Karaktchik.u.m Mehrem 2 Mehrem Besharik 5 Besharik Khokand 5 46

This journey takes eight days in a cart (two-wheeled), and may be much shortened by going straight from Oratepe to Mehrem, which requires only eight hours, so that there is a gain of six Tash.

6. _From Samarcand to Tashkend and the Russian Frontiers._

From To Tash Samarcand Yenghi Kurgan 3 Yenghi Kurgan Dj.i.z.zag 4 Dj.i.z.zag Djinas 16 Djinas Zenghi Ata 4 Zenghi Ata Tashkend 6 33

Five days' journey farther on from here is, as I learnt from the accounts of many different persons, the first Russian fort and post of the Cossacks.

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ROUTES IN THE KHANAT OF KHOKAND.

1. _From Khokand to Oosh (a straight road)._

From To Tash Khokand Karaultepe 5 Karaultepe Mergolan 5 Mergolan Sherikhan 4 Sherikhan Endigan 3 Endigan Oosh 4 19

The journey can be performed in two-wheeled carts in four days.

2. _From Khokand to Oosh (by Namengan)_.