It is 1875, the time of the 'Great Game', when the British and Russian Empires are vying for power in central Asia. Great Britain learns of Russia's plans to annex India, the 'jewel in the crown' of the Empire. A British officer rides for Khiva, a Russian city closed to European travelers. He is on a dangerous mission, to learn if this remote and dangerous oasis is about to be used as a springboard for the Russian invasion of India. Captain Frederick Burnaby ballooned across the English Channel, traveled in Spain and Russia, and was wounded, and eventually killed, fighting for Britain's empire. This account of his perilous journey to Khiva, published in 1876 and immediately reprinted, brought him instant fame.
Excerpt from A Ride to Khiva I was myself a little uneasy about my own pass, as it Was one which had done service about five years previously, and 1 had tor gotten to send it to the Russian Consulate previous to my departure from London. However, atter looking at the document -ior some time, and scrutinizing its owner yery carefully, the official returned it to me. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ...a spot marked on Wyld's map of Khiva, considerably to our rear, while the country was a succession of hill and dale, but much more undulating toward my bridle-hand than in the direction of the setting sun. Our course, as we neared a spot known by the Kirghiz as Tan Sooloo, was due south. From this place to Tooz, our next halting-place, the distance was sixty versts. On either side of the track there were deep hollows and ravines innumerable, while saksaool and brush-wood became each moment more scarce. Apparently all this country had been at some remote period buried beneath the sea. Frequently we came across shells and other marine Crustacea scattered in profusion along our path, while at Tooz we passed a small salt lake which lay about a hundred yards to the east of the track, and was frozen as hard as adamant. Tooz signifies "salt" in the Tartar language, and the sand all about the lake is saturated with salt. Indeed, the traveler does not require any stronger testimony to this fact than the peculiar taste of his tea, for, however carefully the snow is chosen, it is sure to become mixed with a little sand; and the more you drink, the thirstier you become. According to the guide, there were two much larger sheets of salt-water to the west, dividing the ground between ourselves and the Sea of Aral. CHAPTER XXVI. The Turkoman on his Donkey.--Jana Darya.--A once Fertile Country.--A Barren Waste.--The Grandfather of the Khan.--English Horses and Kirghiz "Horses.--Russian Cavalry.--A Sea of Molten Gold.--Silver Isles.--Kamstakak.--A Fresh-water Pond.--A Return to Vegetation--Soigak.--Pheasants.--The Camel-driver is taken 111.--The Moullahs.--Conjuring the Evil One.--A Dog of an Unbeliever.--The Guide's Fight with the...
Frederick Gustavus Burnaby--soldier, traveler, writer, and pioneer balloonist--set out on an unofficial mission in 1875 to investigate the motives behind Russia's exclusion of foreigners from Central Asia. This real-life adventure details the hardship and humor of Burnaby's excursion. Reprinted eleven times in its first year of publication, the story made Burnaby a popular hero in his own day.
