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in accompanying me so far; the camelmen also began to grumble loudly at the danger of going too near the fort. Now this was a little perplexing, for though the Russian prisoners had not much property, they had still much more than they could possibly carry; and to leave it on the ground and march on the prisoners, almost naked, would have a bad effect; to say nothing of the chance of the Russian prisoners (finding themselves in a large majority) helping themselves to the camels. However, I gave the order to unload, and made Caruley himself count the camels. This being done, I asked the people from whom the camels were hired, whether they had received their beasts; and on their replying in the affirmative, I asked Caruley whether the Khan Huzarut's orders had been obeyed, and he answered Yes. I told him to stand on one side, that I had nothing to do with him; but I would give ten ducats to any man who would lend me twenty camels to carry some property to Nova Alexandroff, and would be security for the safe return of the camels. The twenty camels were soon procured, and with the aid of my own and They the Tutor's, we got on well enough, and made a grand appearance. The men marched in a line with the camels, carrying the women and children close in the rear; and thus we approached the Russian fortress. The worthy commandant was overpowered by gratitude; his receiving charge of the prisoners would make a fine picture, and was a scene which I can never forget. The fortification here is small, but constructed on scientific principles; it is on the edge of the high shore of the Caspian sea.

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September 17th. This morning parted with Mahomed Daood and the establishment. Well, good-luck to them, they have followed me over many a weary mile, and, Inshallah, if I rise, they shall rise too; never had man better servants. The only difficulty was to persuade them to go back, though the terrors of the sea were before them if they accompanied me, and these terrors were, in their imagination, any thing but contemptible, to say nothing of the unclean animals! The Russians gave me a feast, and drank the healths of the Queen of England and Emperor of Russia, and

did me the honour of toasting me also. They the Tutor » much alarmed at the guns and hurrahs, and much scandalized at the bottles.

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September 18th. The prisoners came on board, and the worthy commandant bade God spare us. Gave him three cheers on leaving. Sailed at sunset, light but favourable breeze.

September 19th. Progressing but slowly. They the Tutor was rather unwell yesterday, and has not been seen this day. We are sailing over a smooth sheet of water, as clear as crystal, and not eight feet deep; you may count every seaweed. Land has been in sight all day to the south. They say the waters of the Caspian decrease yearly. (1)

September 20th.-Land in sight occasionally this day, and the water not above eight or ten feet deep. A dead calm about noon, which lasted all night.

September 21st.-A strong breeze sprang up right in our teeth. Took advantage of a slight favourable change in the wind, and moved about twelve miles into deeper water. Here the wind settled against us, and we were twenty-four hours anchored, a heavy swell running and shaking this little boat as if it were but a cocklesbell.

Late on the evening of the 22d, we got a puff in our ‘favour, and gradually the wind came round and brought us in, in gallant style, early in the morning of the 23d, to the anchorage of Oochuck, as it is called by Turcomans and Cuzzacks, or Goorieff by Russians, as pretty a spot for fever and ague as I have seen. The vessels are surrounded by high grass which covers their decks, and the mud is black and glutinous. This place is at one of the mouths of the Ooral river. We are now waiting while people go to fetch carriages for us from the neighbourhood. They the Tutor, and indeed all but the old sailors, suffered dreadfully from sickness. He said that the riding on a camel's back in kajores

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(1) It is a curious fact connected with the sea, that by the last Russian surveys, it appears that the sea of Aral is 104 feet, and the Black Sea 116 feet above the Caspian, thus making the Aral and the Black seas nearly on a level with each other, with the Caspian in a hollow a little more than 100 feet below and between them.

(panniers) was painful, but that the shaking in this vessel was something he could never have dreamt of; two days more, he protests, would have killed him. Long and loud are his exclamations of Shookr Alhum-dullillah! Thanks to Almighty God!

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On the evening of the 24th, five or six carts and carriages were brought for our conveyance to Goorieff. They the Tutor, a German naturalist, a Russian doctor, and I, started in a sort of phaeton, drawn by three ponies; off we went like mad. They in a dreadful perturbation; I really sometimes think that these shakings and novelties will be too much for him.

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This place, Goorieff, is chiefly a village of fishermen ; the houses are all of planks, comfortable and clean. It is only within the last few years that the Caspian has retired from this ground. Enormous quantities of fish are caught here, and a considerable trade is carried on in consequence with Astrakhan.

man.

October 1st. Arrived at Ourenbourg after a most harassing and tiresome trip by the post carts. There was a village of boxes, (for the dwellings cannot be called houses,) and a small field fortification at every station; but the only place of any consequence is Ooreilsky, which is a considerable town, with some fine houses. It is the headquarters of the hettman of the Ooral Cossacks, a very agreeable, accomplished gentleThe arrangements regarding post-horses are excellent, and the pace good, but, oh! the carts, they are dreadful. I have travelled far, and in barbarous countries, but never did I suffer so much pain as on this journey. The tract of country from Goorieff to Ourenbourg is occupied by the Cossacks of the Ooral, who are amongst the hardiest soldiers in the Russian ranks; they have many privileges connected with the fisheries on the river. The fish is caught in very great quantities, and is a considerable article of traffic.

On my arrival at Ourenbourg I parted with my longcherished beard, and inserted myself into the tight garbs of Europe. Here I found a very pleasant society. There is a considerable fortification, and a large force. The bazar is a

very busy scene, and natives from all parts of Asia may be seen wandering about, staring at the wonders of European skill and science. Since my arrival, the natives of Khyva, who had been so long in confinement, have been set at liberty, and are to be allowed to return to their homes with their property. The total number of natives of Khyva at Ourenbourg, Oureilskee, and Astrakhan, who thus owe their release to English mediation, is 640, which added to the 416 Russians brought with me, makes a very satisfactory little total in our favour, to say nothing of the numbers which the prohibitory orders may be hoped to save from a life of slavery. From Ourenbourg I posted to Moscow, via Lunbeersk. At Moscow I took a place in the diligence, and arrived at Petersburg on the 3d of November, where I had the honour to receive the thanks of the Emperor for the kindness which I had found it in my power to show to his subjects. This city, and the road to it from Ourenbourg, have been often described by many more able persons than myself; and having carried my unfortunate reader safely into civilized life, I will now make my bow, and wish him, when next he moves, a pleasanter journey with a more amusing companion. (BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE.)

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PASSAGES IN THE CAREER OF EL EMPECINADO.

THE BETRAYAL.

The obstinate persecution of the Empecinado by the French, afforded that chief numerous opportunities to display his natural talent for guerilla warfare a talent he possessed in common with many of his country-men, but in a supereminent degree. With a handful of men, aided by the nature of the country, and a perfect knowledge of localities, he not only managed to elude the pursuit of forces more than fifty times as numerous as his own, but also found means to harass and annoy the enemy, much in the same way that, on a sultry July day, one may sometimes see a horse tortured and driven nearly frantic by the active and persevering attacks of a solitary fly.

Encouraged by the too sanguine reports of some of his spies, to believe that the French were beginning to relax their vigilance, the Empecinado, after remaining some time in the mountains, ventured back to the plains of the Duero; but soon found it would be impossible to continue there, so numerous were the detachments of hostile cavalry that patrolled the country. In retiring towards the

VOL. III.

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