Eurasian Frontier final exam

86 SKETCHES OF CENTRAL -ASIA.

vious night! I thought he was joking, and began to address him in a friendly manner; but he grew only more and more serious. So, in order to avoid un­ pleasant consequences, there remained nothing for me but to hand over my purse, a few leaves of tea, my comb, and my knife, in one word, my whole property. Having so done, I was about to proceed on my way, when he held me back, and opening my-that is to say now his-purse, and taking out five krans, gave them to me with these words :-' Take my debt of yesterday evening. We ai;e now quits, and you.can go on your way.' "

CHAPTER VI.

THE COURT OF KHIV A.

THE courts of oriental princes have been frequently and variously described. Beginning with the shore of the Bosphorus, where Dohna Bagtsche, Beshiktash and Serayburun furnish the first pictures in the pano­ rama, and ranging as far as the palaces of Pekin and Y edo, we have read again and again of the love for ostentation and empty splendour, the glitter of gold and diamonds of oriental life. But to complete the series, a few sketches of life at the court of Tur­ kestan sovereigns are wanting, and the description of such may not, therefore, be deemed superfluous.

My readers must not expect either to be dazzled, or to have their amazement and admiration excited, and yet it will repay the trouble to accompany me through the tortuous streets of Khiva and the bazaar with its vaulted roof to the Ark ( the Royal Castle.) Like all the residences of sovereigns in Central Asia, this castle is strangely fortified and surrounded by a double wall. Through a narrow gate we enter into the first court, which is crowded with the royal body-guard and other soldiers and servants. Near the entrance two cannons