The New York Herald Newspaper, June 27, 1873, Page 4

4 KHIVA., Graphic Letters from Mr. J. A. Mac- Gahan, the Herald Special Commissioner. “WITH THE RUSSIANS IN CENTRAL ASIA. ‘Brilliant Descriptions of the Desert March. <A RUSSIAN NAVAL EXPEDITION. Wplendid Condition of the Invading Foroes En Route. {CAMP LIFE AMONG THE COSSACKS. ‘The Turkestan Corps and the Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovitch. FORTIFYING ON THE WAY. + Fort Blagovestchensky Built and Named in Twenty-four Hours. "THE POLITICAL PROBABILITIES. ‘Arrival of Bi Murtaza-Khodja-Abaskhod- jin, the Khivan Emissary, in the Bussian Camp. MALES OF THREE CAPTIVES. (Mr. MacGahan’s Interesting Interview with Them. ALARM AMONG THE KHIVANS. The Military Strength of the Khan Insignificant. 30,000 PERSIAN SLAVES IN KUBIVA. English Diplomacy in Khiva and Its Effect. THE OUTLOOK FROM THE CO "White Men Sold into Khivan Slavery at 500 Rubles a Head. THE ROMANTIC STORY OF BURN ASHEFF Unwilling Debtors and Dunning Oreditors Hanged in Khiva. THE PRICE OF INCONSTANCY Movra OF THE SIR-DARIA OR JAXARTES RIVER, Russian TURKESTAN, April 21, 1873, The fortress where I am now writing was the en- ‘tering wedge of Russia into Central Asia. It was first constructed by General Peroffsky in 1847, forty miles lower down, at the very mouth of the Jax- ‘artes, and called Fort Aralskoe. Fort No, 2, 150 miles further up, soon followed; and finally, when a steamer or two had been launched on the river, an attack was made on the Khokandian fortress of Ak-Metchet, which was taken in 1853, and Fort No. 3 was erected on its ruins, which rendered the Russian position: unassailable from the South and effectually protected the steppe. In the course of time the position of Fort Aralskoe was found un- suitable, on account of the surrounding marshes, and it was moved up the river to its present position. Here is now a large, regularly con- structed fortress, built of mud bricks, overlaid ‘with earth, situated on the very bank of the river, ‘but leaving a sufficient space for the navy yard. The iortress is surrounded by deep and wide moats and well armed with heavy brass rifled guns of ‘Russian make. The number of guns 1 leave the enemy to find ont, but 1 believe the usual garrison is about one thousand men, which is quite enough against any possibile force that can ever attack it. ‘pn the land side of the fort there has grown up THE FLOURISHING TOWN OF KAZALA, or Kazalinsk, as itis often called, which numbers ‘in all about five thousand inhabitants. These are in smal! part Russian, but chiefly Sarcs, as all the Datives of Russian Turkestan are called, with the exception of the Kirgheezes. Iam told that Sarts are merely people who are settled down and civil- ized, as distinguished from the nomads, and that this name has nothing to do with the division into Fort No. 1, NEAR THE } Turkish or Aryan race. Certainly at Kazala one sees both, Here are men with pure, andsome Aryan features, fair skins, light Yhair and eyes and well-developed bodies; and here are also men of unmistakable Turkish and ‘Mongolian descent, But they all speak one lan- guage—a dialect of Tartar. The first sight of ‘Kazala showed me that I was in Central Asia, in Spite of the fact that it is laid out on the Russian plan, with broad streets, But the low mud houses ‘with flat roofa, often with no windows on the street; the attempts at gardens in front of the houses—as not a leaf is now visible in spite of the extreme heat, it is hard to say how much of gar- dens they are—the large bazaar, with its rows of ‘little shops or stalls, where long-bearded men, clad an gay, parti-colored robes, gravely sit among their wares, taking tea or reading some huge book; the @trings of laden camels, the kibitkas and water Bkins, are what 1 have read of in all the books of travels in Bokhara and Khiva. In my walks about the town THE ARAL FLOTILLA \Was one of the first things that arrested my atten- ytion, and through the kindness of the Commandant ‘I was able to visit all of the vessels which have been coliected here during the Winter, and are now @bout to start off for their Summer work. There are three good-sized side-wheel steamers—the “Bamarcand, Perofsky and Tashkent, two stern- rerheelers—the Aral and Sir-Daria, a steam launch, the Obrutchef, and many barges, of which three are schooner rigged. There are besides two new barges, one of which is just launched, and the other @till on the stocks. Two or three of these vessels ‘wore built in Sweden, but the rest were all CONSTRUCTED IN LIVERPOOL OR LONDON, ‘They aré all of iron, and were brought here in ;pieces and put together here. When I think of the iptoppe that I have just crossed I see the dificulty ‘with which even a single one of these boats must have been transported. The Samarcand, which ‘was built, 1 believe, in 1870, is by far the best of the fleet, and ts an exceedingly pretty and comfortable crait, They are none of them weil fitted for the shallow waters of the Sir-Daria, as they d'aw too much water to run on the river except in the high water of Spring and Midsummer, when the snow melts in the mountain ranges. Here the Sir-Daria is deep enough, and is a wide, muddy stream, But near Fort No. 2 there are many shallows, which are constantly changing. But a few weeks ago, in coming down the Djaman- Daria from Fort Peroffsky, the Samarcand an- chored for the night in deep water, but the next morning was on dry ground, and it required the 1@bor of 500 men for @ week to cut a channel and bring her off—/ortunately without serious damage. THE MODELS FOR THE RUSSIAN STEAMERS on the Oxus and Jaxartes should be sought rather on the rivers of our Southern States than on the Thames, and then we should see steamer alter steamer, drawing hardly six inches of water, float- ing down to the Aral with loity deckloads of cotton and silk, Thouga it was Easter Sunday when I imspected the fleet—the greatest holiday in the Russian calendar—the river bank presented a busy sight. The barges and steamers were being loaded as fast as possible with provisions, stores, and ammunition; tor Lieutenant Sitnikoff, the Commandant, expects to sail for the moutn of the Oxus in three or four days, to go up the river and meet the expedition of General Kaufmann as near a8 possible to Khiva, His fagsuip is the Samarcaud, The Khivan expedition occupies all minds here, Not only the preparations for the departure of the fleet cause work, but @ part of the garrison and most of the officers are gone, and there are con- tinual couriers coming and going, and a thousand things have to be looked alter and attended to, THE RUSSIANS WELL PREPARED. 1 am not astonished to find that the Russians are much better prepared for this campaign than the world supposes them to be. The first duty of the Commandant of a fron- tler post naturally is to reconnoitre the surrounding country, and during the last five years small bodies of troops have been sent out on reconnoissances from Fort No. 1 and Fort Perofsky, both Summer and Winter, and have Penetrated the desert of Kizil-Kum, more than once as farasthe Lake of Astche-Tengiz. In like manner the eastern part of this desert, from Djizzak to Astche-Tengiz and Min-Bulak, has been several times reconnoitred—in 1869 by the expe i- tion of Major Bergbom, in 1871 by Major General Golovatcheff, and in the Spring of 1872 by Lieu- tenant Colonel Ivanof. It may be safely said that there 18 not a route nor a mile in this desert that the Russians do not thoroughly know. These ex- editions have accustomed the Kirgheez, who live in the Kizii-Kum, to the sight of Russian soldiers, and have taught the troops how to bear the fatigues and privations of Winter campaigns in the desert. THE PRESENT EXPEDITION FROM KAZALA is one division of the Turkestan expeditionary corps, and is under the command of Colonel Goloff, the District Commander of Kazala. The ad- vance guard, ied by His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovitch, left Kazala on the 2ist of March, and on the 8th of April had reached the springs of Irkimbai, some two hundred miles south of Kazala. The march ‘Was so successfully made that there were only five men sick, in spite of the very severe weather and snow storms that were encountered. The troops were, however, well provided with tents, preserved Meats and provisions of all sorts, The Grand Duke had been entrusted by Colonel Golof witn the duty of choosing a place for a fortification at Irkimbai, and of tracing the plans, The work Was so successfully and speedily done that in twenty-four working hours a fort was constructed for 280 men, and on Sunday, the 6th of April, the festival of the Annunciation (Blagovestchenie), the fort was consecrated and the Russian flag raised. In honor of the day it will be known as FORT BLAGOVESTCHENSKY, As soon as General Kaufmann received the news of the construction of this fort he issued an order of the day thanking Colonel Goloff and the Grand Duke for their remarkable energy and speed. On the 13th of April the Kazaia Expedition was at Kizil-Kak, and on the 14th arrived at the wells of Bakali, in the Bucan Mountains. The whole force is now at the springs of Min-Bulak, on the other side of these mountains, where it was previously arranged that they should meet with the forces from Tashkent, commanded by General Kaufmann in person. It appears now, however, that General Kauimann has changed his route, and the two ex- peditions will not meet before they reach the Oxus, near Shurakhana, A BEGULAR POSTAL COMMUNICATION twice a week is kept up between Kazala and the expedition, and there are also frequent couriers to and from General Kaufmann, The postal communications of General Kaufmann with Tashkend are also regular, and are directly across the desert of Kizil-Kum to Burdjar, near Tchem- kent. A courier from THE EMBA EXPEDITION arrived to-day on his way to General Kaufmann, He reports that the forces under command of Gen- eral Verfkin had already crossed the Emba, and were well on their way south. This expedition consists of one and a half battalions, four sotnias of Cossacks (a sotnia is 150 men), four guns and a command of sappers. On their way from Orenburg to Emba the troops suffered from the cold, but ar- rivedin good health and good order. The trans- port train was, however, long delayed by unusual snow storms, and many of the camels gave out from the bad weather and want of food. This ex- pedition 18 due by the 13th of May at the Aibugir Bay of the Aral Sea, where it will unite with tne expedition of Colonel Lomakin from Mangishlak, which includes part of the forces of Colonel Marko- zof. The movement from the Emba to the Kashkar-ata is in one column; but further on to Kasarma, on the Aral Sea, it will be in two columns on account of the scarcity of water. From Kasarma to Atbugir the forces will again move in one column. In order to guard the road two sotnias will be left at Karatamak, one company and half a sotnia at the Sands of Sam, where troops have hitherto been always kept during the Spring and Summer. Besides this one sotnia will remain at the wells of Djebyske, The expedition from Mangishlak had at first some dificuity, on account of the unwillingness of the Kirgheezes of that vicinity to pare with their camels; but a sufll- cient number were finally obtained and everything passed off well. But, perhaps, the most important news I have obtained here concerning the Khivan war is that of the arrival here three weeks ago of AN AMBASSADOR FROM THR KHAN OF KMIVA, the Bii Murtaza-Khodja-Abaskhodjin, with a letter from the Knan to General Kaufmann, and with the Russian captives. The Ambassador has a suite of twenty-five persons, a:nong whom are a Divan- Beg and an Ishan. It is said that the Khan has ordered the Embassy to comply in every respect with General Kaufmann’s demands, At the time when the Embassy was sent out nothing was known at Khiva of the movement of the Russian troops, and as it took the road close to the Aral it did not meet the expeditionary forces. The Em- bassy was a month on the road, and found snow enough to supply them with water. General Kaul- mann has ordered the Ambassador to be forwarded to his camp, and also those of the Russian cap- tives who can stand the journey. The re- leased Russians number but twenty-one. Eleven are Cossacks. They were all captured in 1869 and 1870 by the Kirgheezes and de- livered to the Khivai It is said that these are all the Russians held as slaves in Khiva that could be found, with the exception of one old man taken in Perotfsky’s disastrous expedition, who has be- come 4 Mussulman, and has married there and preferred to remain, Later incelligence represents that there is GREAT ALARM IN KHIVA on account of the near approach of the Russian troops, and measures for defence are being taken. Itis reported that three expeditions have been sent out from Khiva, one of 6,000 men, under the command of Yakub-Bil, to the fortress of Ach-Kala, at the mouths of the Oxus; another of 4,000, com- manded by the Divan-Beg Mat-Murad, to the for- tress of Dan-Kara, on the Aral Se: third, led by another Divan-Beg and by the famous NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. | Trobber-chie! Sadyk, 7,000 strong, has crossed the Amu-Daria and is moving on Min-Bulak, in the road to be taken by the Turkestan Expedition. Dondt has been expressed by some as to the effect which the Khivan Embassy and the return of the Russian captives would have on the expe- dition, and some have even thought that it would be necessary to wait for the decision of the Em- peror before proceeding further. This, nowever, seems not to be the case, from the fact that the expedition is continually advancing 8, while sending an embassy of peace, the Khan is taking measures to protect himself, it is probable that the release of the slaves is merely one of the TRICKS AND SHIFTS to which all Asiatics resort on the breaking out of ® war. Belore the capture of Samarcand an em- bassy was sent out in the same way, in order to dis- tract the attention of the Russians, and conceal the preparations for fighting. The release of the Russian slaves removes, indeed, one of the chief Treasons for the expedition, but it would be im- possible for the Russians to stop without inflicting an exemplary punishment on the Khan, and with- out exaciing guarantees that no more Russians wouid be held captive in the fature. If the expedi- tion were to end now, the Khivans would be so encouraged by the success of their manceuvre that they would believe still more than they do now that they are impregnable, and would be convinced that the Russians had retired trom weakness. More Captives would be taken, attacks would be made on the Russian frontiers, and a new expedition would be necessitated far more costly than the present ore, (The Orenburg expedition will cost, it is said, 1,800,000 roubles.) Besides these, there are _ TUIRTY THOUSAND PERSIANS HELD IN CHAINS IN KHIVA, and Russia, who has so nobly rid herselfof the stain of human slavery, can hardly begin an anti- slavery campaign without carrying it to its furthest extent and releasing all the victims of this nest of pirates. The capture of Khiva will be the death blow to the slave traiic in Central Asia, for Khiva is now practically the only market where the Turcomans can dispose of their captives. The enslavement and imprisonment of Russian sub- jects is not, however, the only cause of complaint that Russia has against Kbiva. That country forms a refuge for the most inveterate enemies of Russia, for traitors like Sadyk and Atamkul, and there they are assisted in all their hostile plans and undertakings,» Bands under the leadership of these men, and even regular Khivan troops, are continually attacking and ROBBING THE KIRGHEEZ TRIBES that are subject to Russia, or are exciting them to discontent and revolt. The length of time that these offences have been suffered to go unpunished, the failure of the expedition of Bekovitch Tcher- kassky, in the time ef Peter the Great, and of that of Perofisky, in 1840, have given the Khivans the idea that they are really a strong nation and can do as they like with impunity, It is evident that some effectual stop must be put to this state of things, and that Khiva must be reduced to a semi- dependant condition, where Russian influence will be paramount. To do this it is not necessary per- manently to occupy the country, but only to retain one or two fortresses on the Oxus, 80 as to preserve the free navigation of that river, and perhaps build one or two forts on the land frontier, ‘This is probably WHAT WILL BE DONE WHEN KHIVA HAS BEEN TAKEN. I speak of the capture of Khiva asa certainty, because I see no other possible issue to the cam- paign. The great difficulty was for the Russian army to arrive there. Both the columns from Kazala and from Djizzak have now passed the worst part of the road, and will meet on the Oxus about the 12th of May. The Russians have pon- toons for crossing the river, and there are besides plenty of native boats and of trees of which rafts can be made. None of the canals are too deep to be forded, and any attempt to food the country by cutting tiem would be futile, as in that porvus soil the water would all disappear in twenty-four hours. THE DEFENCES OF KIIVA are very weak; there are no cannon except some old pieces captured in former Russian expe- ditions, and the soldiery are untrained ana very badly armed, I should not be at all surprised if the city surrendered without afight. So lar as the Khan is concerned, he is very much frightened and ready to give in at once. But the government of Khiva is really in the hands of a hereditary aristocracy, and these may be disposed to make a hard struggle, fearing that they may be deprived of all their privileges. In one respect the conquest of Khiva will be of great importance to civilization, as breaking up THE LAST STRONGHOLD OF MUSSULMAN FANATICISM. With the faliof Khiva will end all dreams of a united Mussulman rising in Central Asia and India, The Russlan authorities in the territories under their rule have put no restriction on Mo- hammedanism, but the faith is so fast falling into decay that even the Russian ofiicials are called on by the native religious authorities to enforce the laws of the Sheriah, or Mo- hammedan religious tradition. India, so re- cent English writers inform us, is threatened by the rising fanaticism of various Mussnuiman sects. All of these look to Khiva and Bokhara for aid and comfort in throwing off the yoke of the un- believer. Bokhara 18 now powerless, and when the false reputation of Khiva is overthrown and the Mussulman world is convinced that she is also im- potent the hopes of fanaticism will be at an end. Every blow deait at the Mohammedan power and Influence in Central Asia by Russian arms 1s also a blow at Mohammedan fanaticism in India and a support to English influence there. The English, who best of all should know this, should welcome rather than regret the capture of Khiva. Instead of jealousy and intrigue and suspicion, they should join hand in hand with the Russians in the spread of civilization in Central Asia. Interview With Returned Slaves. Font No. 1, NEAR THE Mouth or JAXARTES, OR SIR-DaRIA River, April 22, 1873. As I was lying indolently on the divan yesterday afternoon, reading in Horace about the ‘Parthos feroces ani the ‘fabulosus Hydaspes,” and dream- ing between the lines of Genghiz and Tamerlane and the glories of Samarcand, the faitiiul Ak-Ma- metef came in and told me that three of the Rus- sian slaves from Khiva, old pals of his, had come to see him. I at once offered to stand the tea and vodka, and when they got well going I went in to hear their sipries. Ail three were fair-haired, blue-eyed men, but burned by exposure to the sun to a dark brown color. Their dress was half Russian, half Asiatic, for they wore the crimson cotton khalats or dress- ing gowns which had been presented to them at their departure by order of the Khan. It being Eastertide 1 had to comply with the universal Rassian custom and give each of them three kisses. I got through it as best I could, and then sitting down Russian I ASKED FOR THE TALPS. One, Roman Andreef Sukhorukof, about forty years old, was @ soldier in the Orenburg army, and was captured in 1869, near Kirgheez, having been gent out from the fort to find forage for some horses. The other two, Ivan Osipoif Burnasheit and Pavel Nicolaief Zotoff, were clerks from Oren- burg, and were also taken in 1849, together witha third, who by some chance was sent along with the Khivan embassy of last year, and thus freed. Zo- totf Is but a young fellow, and was a boy of fifteen when captured, Burnashef was the chief spokes- man, and I will give what he said, as far as possi- ble, in his own words, omitting the many questions Ihad to put in order to draw him out:— BURNASHEFY’S STORY. “Jn 1869, in the carly Spring, we were at Ak-Djul- pas, a post station on the Aral Sea, north of Fort No, 1, in order to furnish beef to the soldiers, A small post had been established near there, and my father and (after his death) I had a contract to supply all the garrisons of the posts In this district with beef, Atthis time there was @ great deal of dissatisfaction among the Kirgheezes, for tle gov- ernment was establishing some new regulations, and among other tnings made the taxes three roubles on a kibitka, instead of one rouble and a half, ag it was before, These Kirgheezes haa been worked on by men sent up from Khiva, and were very discontented, and when finaily they rebelled against our government they asked fog ald from the Khan. The Khan sent word that he would sena them an army, but that first they must deliver up ali the Russians who were in the country. Somebody gave information that we were at Ak-Djulpas, and the Kirgheez chief was ordered to bring us to Khiva, We had then been there about three weeks, for we dared not go farther south, and we were trading in small wares with the Kirgheezes, Besides myself and this young fel- low, Zotoff, there was another man who was sent back to Russia @ year ago, Well, the Kirgheezes came on us suddenly in a great number and took us. The two Cossacks who were at the station ran away and got olf, but afterwards Colonel Rakim was killed there, We were * PUT ON HORSEBACK, and had to travel night and day for four or five days to Khiva, around the west side of the Aral Sea, The Kirgheezes treated us weil enough, as they wanted to bring us in alive; but we had very little water and were almost starved. We were all worn out with riding so far, When we got there we were put up for sale, and many poople came and looked at us, and felt of us to see if we were strong. Finally, the Khan him- self sent and bought us for 250 tillas apiece, or about five hundred roubles. We were then sent to one of the Summer palaces of the Khan, and set to work in the gardens, There we found sev- eral other Russians; some as gardeners and others carpenters, and doing what they were best fit for. At the beginning they shaved our heads and cut off our mustaches, and wanted to force us to ber come Mohammedans, But, fnally, the Khan said that we ought to do as we chose, and need not be jorced, 80 that aiter that we were leit in peace. THE KHAN himself is a young man, twenty-six years old, very mild and good-natured, but he is very weak, and controlled by an Afghan, who makes him*do very bad things, The government is very bad and des- potic, and if the Khan had his own way he would have released us long ago. He often used to walk in the garden, and sometimes talked to us pleas- antly. He does almost nothing, and rarely goes hunting, but amuses himself with his wives and dancing boys. We were not very badly treated, except at first, and olten went into the city and to the bazaar, We had the same food as the Persian slaves, and in general lived much as they did, [ should think there were TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND PERSIAN SLAVES THERE. We dressedlike the rest of the people, and no one ever troubled us when we went out. Of course if we had tried to run away we would have been hung atonce. But if we could manage to save money it was possible to buy ourselves; that is, we must buy another slave to take our place, and then we would be free, but we never could leave the country. There were some Russians there who had been there a long time. Some had become Mohammedans and had married several wives, ana there was one old man who had been taken on Peroffsky’s expedition, Many of these Russians had entirely 1orgotten how to talk Russian; they only remembered their prayers, and they said them much better than we could. The laws are very strict in Khiva, and every day somebody is hanged or has hishead cut of, If one man COMPLAINS AGAINST HIS DEBTOR, and the debt is proved, the man is hanged if he de- nies it; but ifit isnot proved, and the man does not confess when tortured, then the creditor is hanged. When a man is found with a woman both are executed, We always were in hopes of being released, and when we heard of the advance of the Russians we thought that now our time was come. When the Knan knew that the Russians were sending an army against him he wanted to give in at once, but the Divan-Begees would not let him. They first sent one Embassy to Constantinople and then ope to India. Really itis to the English that we owe our release, and we are very grateful to them, THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND sald to the Khivan Ambassador, “Tell your Khan that he is himself to blame and that I cannot help him. Let him first release the Russian prisoners and then the 30,000 Persiun slaves he has, and then perhaps I can do something. But he must do this first.” ([ have reason to consider this part of Burnashett’s story apocryphal.) The Embassy came back, and within five days we were all re- leased. The Knan sent to every man a new khalat, but we would not believe our good luck till we had reached here. We always thought there was a trick init, We came up the east side ot the Aral Sea, close to the sea, and so did not meet the ex- pedition, We were treated well enough, but for ten days had no water but melted snow. We were thirty days on the road. ERIVA IS A VERY POOR COUNTRY, and fruit and even grain is brought from Bokhara, Twice, when the harvests were bad, the prices were very high, and many people died. The city is very dirty and unpleasant, All the houses are small and of mud, and the streets are very narrow. The Russian army will take the city at once. The walls are only of mud, and very thin; you can dig holes in them with your hand. There are afew old cannon, but very bad, and the Khivans do not know how to use them. Not long ago they filled one full of powder and it burst and killed twenty- five men. ‘They are not on the walls, but in front of the Khan’s palace. There is no regular army, but people are hired by the month at 10 tillahs apiece. Some have swords, some axes or spears and some matchlocks. They will run away at once.’’ Fort PEROFFSKY, ON SIR-DARIA, OR JAXARTES RIVER, April 30, 1873, Tam now abie to give you some particulars about the movements of the expedition from Tashkent, which is under the immediate command of Gen- eral von Kaufmann. General von Kaufmann—who had arrived from St. Petersburg on March 4—left Tashkent on the 23d March, accompanied by His Imperial Highness the Prince Eugene Leuchten- berg, to join the forces which had been gathered on the river Kly, near Djizzak, aud arrived at that place the next day. PRINCE LEUCHTENBERG had entirely recovered from the effects of his acci- dent. He was wounded in the leg by the whee! of @ native arba, which passed too close to his horse, and had been confined to his room for ® week. At Kly, General von Kanuf- mann was met by the Ambassadors of the Emir ot Bokhara, Yatch-ya-Khodja-Ishan and Mirza Hissametdin-Mirakhur, and by deputations from Samarcand and all the cities of that region, In the reception accorded to the native deputations General Kaufmann iniormed them that the Em- peror was well satisfied with them, and that they would be obliged to pay in future for the taxes of heradj and tanap but one-tenth, instead of one- Mth of the harvest. It will be ‘remembered that the heavy taxes excited some discontent in Khadjent last Spring. The natives were delighted with this unexpected act of grace; and, though the forms of Central Asiatic politeness required them to receive the announcement in silence 80 long as the Commander-in-Chief was present, he had no sooner moved off than they gave vent to joud manifestations of joy and gratitude, There has lately been a lively diplomatic cor- respondence between General Kaufmann and THE EMIR OF BOKHARA, which has had a very favorable issue. The pro- posed movement of the Russian troops close along the northern frontier of Bokhara has not excited the suspicion of that goverment, nor made any change in the fmendly relations of the two coun- tries. Tne Emir even ordered the Bek of Nurata to have ready for the Russian troops everything they would need, and sent the Bek of Ziauadin to meet General Kaufmann with rich presenta, Of the two Ambassadors who met General Kaufmann at Kly one was sent back to Bokhara with @ letter and the other accompanied the march of the troops. He is very much astonished ‘at the order and discipline which are maintained in the Russian army. The Russian forces moved from Kly in four eche- lons on successive days, and it was expected that ‘they wouid reach the Amu Daria in twenty-two days, which included five days of rest, As faras Tamdy the whole army was to proceed by one road, but from Tamdy to Min-Bulak it was to march in two columns by different roads, on account of the apprehended scarcity of water. General Kauf- mann left Kly on the 28th of March, with the last echelon, and on the 1st of April arrived @ Temir- kabuk, in the Nura-Tau Mountains, where @ halt was made, Toe weather throumhgut Was moat uo- favorable, with extreme cold, snow storms and vio- lent winds, On the night of the 29th there was A VIOLENT HURRICANE, which blew down most of the tents, scattered the camp fires and rendered the position of the troops most uncomfortable, The tent of Prince Leuchten- berg was blown to pieces, and he was obliged to 9 aie for the night with the Commander-in- fe: At Temir-Kabuk General Kaufmann was met by the Bek of Ziauddin, Astanakul-Bektokaab, sent by the Emir to wish him a complete success in the attack on Khiva, According to Asiatic custom, THE EMBASSY BROUGHT RICH PRESENTS, * among which were four Argamak horses, with complete equipments, ornamented with tur- koises; many Kkhalats, or robes of honor, silk sta! &c,, and a@ large and magnificent campaign tent, which had been prepared for General Kaufmann by the special order of the Emir. On the 2d of April there also arrived Abdu- Djalil-Bil, the Bek of Nurata, who nad been ordered tomeet the Russian army near to the Bokharan dominions. The Bek of Ziauddin accompanied the army as far ag Bulty-Sadyr, and the Bek of Nurata as far as the wells of Kosh-Baigi. At both places tents were found erected, filled with all sorts of provisions, and a magnificent dasturichan was served, Besides this, by the orders of the Emir, forage, fuel and provisions of all kinds were brought for the use of the army, and A REGULAR BAZAAR WAS OPEN. All these things were transported across the | Mountains with much trouble and pains, but the Beks had been told that tney would lose their heads if General Kaufmann was dissatisfied with them, and they exerted themselves to the ut- most. The Bokharan Ambassador, Hisoamstdin- Mirakbur, by order of the Emir, will accompany the army to Khiva, and as Mirza-Hakim, the Am- bassador from Kokan, has aiso joined General Von Kaufmann the expedition against Khiva has the concurrence of the two strongest Central Asiatic Khanates. The unseasonableness of the weather affected the camels, many of which gave out, 80 that the march of the army has been much slower than was intended, and the arrival of the transport train OF THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED CAMELS, which was to join the’ expedition at Tamdy, is looked for with anxiety. It was expected that the Kirgheezes would bring camels froin the North, from the neighborhood of Turkestan, but the un- usually high water has prevented them irom cross- ing the Arys and the Sir-Daria. As had been proposed, the forces marched from Balta-Sadyr in two columns; but as abundance of water was found in all the wells, aud even new ones were found, the Northern column was ordered tojoin tne Southern one at the wells o1 Aristan- Bel, and the whole expedition arrived there on the 12th of April. At the last accounts they were still there waiting for the arrival of the expedi- tion from Fort No, 1. General Von Kauf- Mann has deemed it advisable to change the route, and, instead of advancing to Tamdy and Min-Bulak, will go southwesterly to Mam-Djan, Kiderl, Karak and Khala-Ata. From this last spring the army will go directly to the Amu Daria, about fifty miles. From Aristan-Bel to Khala-Ata is about one hundred miles. The inhab- itants of this little settlement are subject neither to Khiva nor to Bokhara, but pay tribute to whom- soever demands it. This road is about one hundred Miles shorter than the one previously proposed, and has the advantage of numerous wells and of being near a cultivated country. The forces will touch the river at the ferry of Utch-tchutchak, thus turning the insignificant fort of Shurukana and the much stronger fortress of Shah-Abbas-Vali. The most difficult portion of the road has thus been passed with great success, FRESH WATER WAS FOUND EVERYWHERE in abundance, and even in the welis which were found sait by the first echelon the remaining echelons found fresh water, which had not yet had time to imbibe the properties of the upper crust of earth. The artillery has sately passed through the sands of the Kizil-Kum, without especial dimiculty. In spite of the bad weather the health of the men is perfect, The remaining part of gho road is easy, and General Kaufmann expects to encamp on the banks of the Oxus on the 7th of May. THE POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS ofthe army with Tashkent have been regularly kept up; at first through Djizzak, but now through Burdjar, near Tchemkent. The rich and influential Kirgheez Bit Madali-Khoodja, during the Bokharan rule a collector of taxes from the Kizil-Kum Kirgheezes, has undertaken to bring letters, and even packages, through in quick time—not more THE SUPERVISORS. A March Stolen Upon Mayor Have- meyer=A Lively Row in the Board of Supervisors—Three Commissioners of Drill Rooms and Armories Appointed and Confirmed. ‘The above Board met yesterday, at half-past two o’clock, when, the Mayor being absent, Recorder Hackett, by a unanimous vote, was called to the chair. Among the bills presented was one of John R. Fellowes, for conducting the prosecution against Edward Stokes, $3,000, It was referred to the Committee on Criminal Courts and Police. The law having provided that the Board of Super- visors may appoint a commission, consisting of three persons, to select drill rooms and armory buildings, Mr, MONHEIMER moved that, in accordance with the special order of the day, Francis Bixby (brother of the well-known Police Judge), Colonel Charles Schwartzweilder, a manufacturer, of East Broadway, and Charles Cowan, an uptown builder, be appointed Alderman BILLINGS Moved to lay it over until Monday next. The motion was lost by a vote as follows :—Yeas—The Recorder, Flanagan, Kehr, Koch, Lysaght, McCafferty, Monheimer, Reilly and ‘Van Schdick, Nays—Billings, Cooper and Falconer. The other members were absent, ‘The following, Offered by Mr. Koon, adopted :— Resolved, That the Clerk of the Common Council be requested to make out and present to the Comptroller for Payment the pay rolt of the members of the Board of jupervisors for the month of May. Mr. VAN SOHAICK presented the standing com- mittees of the Board of Supervisors and moved their adoption. This was the signal for A ROW IN THE BOARD, Aldermen Cooper, Falconer and other adherents of the Mayor claiming that there was no hurry, espe- cially during the absence of members of the Board, viz. :—Messrs. Vance, Morris, Clausen and the Mayor, Motions looking to the defeat of the reso- lution’ appointing these committees were voted down, Messrs, Falconer and Cooper becoming so excited over the trap the combination had sprung upon them that they declared they would not serve on the committees.” The motion appointing these committees Was, however, adopted, Messrs. Billings, Cooper, Falconer and Otiendorter young nay. "A uittie incident occurred during the excitement that {s worth repetition in the HERALD. When Mr. Falconer deciared he would not serve on the com- mittees, Mr. Kehr arose and remarked, “He need not serve. Mr, Cooper, a lawyer on Broadway, answered as he drew himself up to his Goliah proportions was contemptuously looked down upon Mr. Kehr, “I believe the gentleman should not speak. Mr. Kehr has been ce)? pri Confusion followed. Mr. Kehr, who speaks Eng- lish very imperfectly, conferred with his associates and quietly resumed his seat. The rumor circu- lated that Mr. Kehr would answer Mr. Cooper be- fore the Board adjourned, but if such was his inten- tion he evidently changed his mind, The following are the committees appointed :— ‘Annual Taxes and Messrs, Vance, Koch, 7 bey ja and Ottendorfer. sagen ‘Courte—Messrs. Billings, Retlly, Morr and ‘Monheimer. ie va y) Pee emcee Ofices—Messrs. Van Schaick, Billings, Koch, Mon- ‘County aevlminal Courts and Bol jessrs, Hack im a ac Last ea PEM rman, uy he. Biling, Koch and Morris, wrioad ated batt zu Mi Koch, wort ing oT Pk i os gd ‘S878. . me Hit a Rooms) r, Reilly, Billings, ud \esers. if. ws ndorfer, Vance, Cooper, Lysaght and losers. © Mi spat rt ete, at abd Hackett, Vance, Van e us was transact and the Board adjourned untll Monday next at eleven A. M. During the contest between the rival factions it Was openly charged that impo) rt efforts had been resorted to by the majority to profit by the absence of the Mayor’s friends, and the Chairman ‘was appealed to. That gentieman ina dignified manner restored a little order by declaring that he had not heard of any such movement, and merely desired to faithfully perform his duty. hen joard adjourned the members met in wi the Board the lobby, and c' wore openly made that ae } os -— rendered. Messrs. Reilly, McCaf, / | and others Showed thelr ehicids of office, and’, <oned to the buttoned uy whose suields could not be seen.' THE POLICE JUSTICE SALMAGONDE The Action of the Board of Aldermen Yester- day—The Mayor Renominates and Is a Little Sarcastic—The Aldermen Re- fase to Confirm—Field Marshal Flanagan Wins a Victory. coats of some Oui associates- *e ‘The meeting of the Board of Aldermen yesterday was watched with much interest by politicians generally, and by none with more eagerness than the gentlemen whom W. F. Havemeyer, Mayor of the city, has nominated for Police Justices, and their Jollowers, who hope to obtain place and emoluments under them, Early in the morning rumors ran along the line of the reformers that the Mayor would make a flank movement upon the obstreper- ous Aldermen whom he had “so oiten driven to the pump,’’? but who refused to drink; wiile, on the other hand, it was claimed that Fianagan, Rei:ly, Monheimer & Co. held an impregnable position, from which they could not be dislodged. As will be seen from the report below, the Mayor did at- tempt a side aitack, and induiged in sone sarcasm at the expense of the bad boys who kick over the traces ;but it was a failure so far ag results, and the combination reinains with uobroken ranks aud is likely to remain so for some time to come. The story Was extensively circulated and overtures had been made to the combination by candidates to give them some of the patronage of the courts it they would confirm; but if such is the case it has not had auy elfect upon the Aldermen, who put the atter on the ground of personal respect. ‘Tiley say that the Mayor continues to treat them witl aiscourtesy, as is sliown in the manner of wordiny his communications, where ho ignores the usi formula of closing, ‘1 have the honor, &6., to ve your obedient servant, W. F, Havemeyer, Mayor,” and merely closes “W. F. Havemeyer.”” How the Aldermen, as Supervisors, retaliated upon the Mayor will be seen in the report of the Board of Supervisors, THR ACTION OF THE ALDERMEN. Shortly after the hour nanled for meeting yester- day all the Aldermen were in their seats and President Vance’s el called them to order. Alter the minutes had been read the Clerk an- nounced & communication trom His Honor tie Mayor, which is as iolows. It will be seen that the Mayor closes ratier sarcasticaily, without being really rude or insulting :: Mayon’s Orrice, New York, June 26, 1873. To THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY ov New York GentLewen—Op the 17th inst, T transmitted to your honoraple body a message under that date, making nom- inations of police magistrates, which ‘message was opened atthe first meeting ol your honorable body held hereaiter, to wit, on ihe 19th inst, Being mformed ‘that, owing to iny absence from the city ‘at the time of your meeting, some objections have been Tate as to the strict formality, and legality 0! the nomi- nations then submitied, and being unwilling that in a matter o! such grave importance any quesiion, however technical or siruined, should interiere with the public requirements as embodied in the acts reorganizing the Police Courts, | do hereby, in pursuance ot the provi-ions of the actof the Legislature of the state of New York, chapter 5%, Laws of 1373, entitled ‘An act to secure better administration. in the Police Courts of the city otf New York,” passed May 17, 1873, nominate and, subiect to the consent of the Hoard ot Aldermen, appoint, | (Here are inserted all the names of the uomlnees sent in on the 17th.) ‘The Mayor concludes thus:—It is satistactory to know thatin the ordinary course of legislation by your honorable body no time has been lost by this alleged intormality to the projudice of the public interests, as, for the purpose acquainting yourselves with the character and qualitica- tons of the Hominees, the intervening time has doubtless been as usefully employed by the members of your honorable body as though the communication had not been considered open to the objections 1 have stated. W. F, HAVEMEYS On motion of Alderman McCarrerty the com- munication was received and ordered to be printed in the City Record ‘‘when legally estab- Ushed.” The vote was—Yeas—Messrs, Flanagan, Kehr, Koch, Lysaght, McUafferty, Monbeimer, Reilly and Van Schaick. Nays—Messrs. Van Billings, Clausen, Crocker, Falconer, Morris Ottendorfer, The Committee on Street Pavements reported in favor of paving Worth street, trom Centre to Chatham square; Park street, from Centie to Mott street; Baxter, from Chatham to Bayard; Mal- berry, from Chatham to Pavk, and Little Water street, from Park to Worth, with Belgium or trap- nie pavement, which was laid over under the Tule. A communication from the Department of Public Works, enclosing estimates for the year 1873 of ex- penses, places it at $1,669,500, or $430,500 less than 1872 and $193,000 less than the estimate submitted at the commencement of the year. It was ordered to be printed in the minutes. The City Chamberlain reported that when he took’ possession of the office May 28, 1873, there was in the treasury $3,360,086 89. The receipts and payments of the treasury during the preceding year (1872) were as tollows:—Receipts, 1872, $72,050,381; payments, 1872, $73,570,000, A motion of Mr. MORRIS to take from the table the letter of the Mayor nominating Messrs, Ackert and Streeter for Police Justices was lost by a vote of 7 yeas to8 nays. As a letter was received from the supervisor of the City Record announcing its establishment, Mr. MorRIs moved to take from the table the commu- nication of the Mayor of the 17th of June, in which he nominated Messrs, Fitch, Cowles, Uhisoefer, Ot- terburg, Hall, Kilbrath, Wandell and Sherwood as Police Justices, when & discussion arose as to the City Record, which was ended by Mr. MONHEIMER, who raised the point of order that the law com- pelled the Board to act upon the nominations in the order they are received, and the Board havi refused to take from the table the nominations Messrs. Ackert and Streeter, the Board could not act upon the later nominations. The Chair de- cided the point of order well taken, The Board sdjourned until Thursday next at ten o’clock A. M. THE KINGSBRIDGE ROAD, Continuation of the Testimony of Sure veyor Edward Boyle—The Difficulties of His Work—No Previous Surveys to ‘Work On. Yesterday was the seventh day of the Referee’ examination into the cost of widening the Kings- bridge road, and the testimony of Edward Boyle, the Surveyor, was continued. There were present, besides Mr. Pritchard, the Referee, a host of coun- sel, Join T. McGowan and enry Parsons, Com- missioners, and Mr. Boyle and his counsel, Mr. Hawes; D. D. Lord and G. Mattsall on the part of the property owners, and-Mr. Hawkins on the part of the Comptroller, Mr. Sinclair, for the Corpora- tion Counsel, was not present yesterday, owing to pressure of business, The testimony of Mr. Boyle was of great length, and lasted from eleven A. M. until late in the afternoon. In the conrse of the examination he testified to the mantiold dim- culties he had to contend with in being only posses- sed Of maps having no definite boundaries. He said that property north of 166th street had never had any reilavie surveys made of it; that he had to contend with vague deeds, Jost land- marks, the maps on record containing few or no dimensions, which necessitated dist surveys of each property, with difficult calculations corresponding with the magnitude of the work. He also showed that his finisned damage map con- sists of a series of double lots Fequiring qua ruple care to find all dimensions, Mr. Boyle then showed the diferences between his map and the Western Boulevard map, which appears to consist in the Kingsbridge road being on an old established road, with property fronting on both sides, whereas the Western Boulevard runs through well established farms, having some order on both sides, so that eaci lot requires but two lines to be definitely de- fined on the map. Mr. Boyle added in the course of his examination that the outlay from his private funds in this matter 18 at least $50,000, It appears that there is some difficulty between himsell and the Comptroller, and that he expects he shail have to fight hard for the money, The testimony of Mr. Boyle will be continued this morning, and it is expected that the case before the Reieree wiil take up over a thousand loolscap pages of testimony, which will be sent to the Supreme Court. THE BOABD OF APPORTIONMENT. A meeting of the Board of Apportionment and Estimate was held yesterday at the Comptroller’s office, The meeting was called tor two o'clock and the Board was in executive session until after six o’clock, The Comptroller then announced to “the press’’ that the Board had adjourned until to-day (Friday), and that the estimates would then be Teady for publication, Though all the proceedings of the Board were conducted on the strictest secrecy it 18 understood that the total will show a very large diminution as compared with the appro- priations of previous years, THE GREAT EASTERN. New York, June 26, 187% To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— In an editorial of this morning you mention the Great Eastern'’s position on Tuesday noon, and State that she has made about two hundred miles day. “At this rate,” you say, “she will ly pass the meridian of St. John’s, Newfoundland, to-day, and with favoring current steam rapidly to her destination at Sydney, Uape Breton.” You have unintentionally fallen into an error. The Great Eastern is vound for Heart’s Content, New- Joundiand, and wiil nny reach there on Sate urday. etore entering the harbor she must and splice the deep sea section to the shore e section, which is to be laid by the steamer Hiber- nia, The Great Eastern will then remain at fleart’s Content taking in coal, while Captain Halpin will eed in the steamer Edinburgh to Placen' ewfoundland, and between that point and Syd- ney, Cape Breton, will submerge two new cables. Alter completing this work he will return to Heart's Content, and from there the Great East- ern, the Hibernia and the Edinhargh will proces4 to repair the 1866 cable, Tremau youss CYRUS W. FIELD. 4