Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - II.—Through the Mountains and Deserts to the Yarkand-daria
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
TO THE YARKAND-DARIA. 15
age to the Prophet’s grave, turned out a thorough-paced
rascal.
A word or two to explain how the two West Siberian
Cossacks, Sirkin and Chernoff, came to take part in this
journey. In an audience which I had with the Emperor
Nicholas II., in April, 1899, His Majesty told me that
he wished to send with me an escort of Cossacks, " that
I might have all the protection and security that human
power could give me." When I ventured to express
some hesitation on the ground that I was only accustomed
to Mohammedan servants, and had never had Cossacks
under my command, and at the same time pointed out
that the presence of Cossacks in my retinue might give
rise to difficulties when I approached the frontier of India,
the Czar laughed, and said that I should never regret
having followed his advice, " for," he added, " in my
journey through India, Japan, and Siberia I was accom-
panied by Cossacks, and I know from experience what
useful fellows they are." I expressed my thanks for this
signal mark of imperial favour. That same day about
two o’clock the Imperial Horse Guards were celebrating
the memory of their patron saint, and the Emperor and
all the Grand Dukes were present. An hour later I received
a letter from General Kuropatkin, asking me to call upon
him if possible at once. At the banquet. His Majesty
the Czar had ordered the General to make arrangements
for my Cossack escort. The Czar proposed to send ten
Cossacks, but I thought that two would be enough, and
begged General Kuropatkin to let them meet me in the
vicinity of Lop-nor on the ist December (O. S.). They
were to be requisitioned from the Cossack army of Trans-
baikalia. By the Czar’s express order they were to be
Buriats, of the Lamaist faith, " for they will be useful
to you in Tibet." When I was leaving Kashgar, intending
after a few days to separate from my caravan, and make
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
