The navigation of the Oxus has been the subject of constant inquiry from the time when, in 1875, the steamer _Petrovski_, drawing 3½ feet of water, picked a passage for itself as far as Nukus. Three years later another steamer, the _Samarkand_, with a draught of 3 feet and of 24 horsepower, made the journey from Petro Alexandrovsk to Kelif. Between 1878 and 1880 further attempts were made to demonstrate the navigability of this waterway; but between 1880 and 1887 there was so much conflict of opinion that matters scarcely advanced beyond the experimental stage. At that date the increasing importance of the interests of Russia along the Afghan border made evident the advisability of improving all possible lines of communication with it. With this end in view, the Russian Government equipped a small fleet of steamers for river service and the navigation of the Oxus to-day is controlled by these vessels, which are described as the Government Amu Daria Flotilla. Between Patta Hissar on the middle reaches and Khiva, Petro Alexandrovsk and Kungrad on the lower reaches, these craft conduct a regular shipping business, Farab and Charjui acting as the central depôt to the service--Farab holding the headquarters of the company and Charjui being the principal anchorage. From Patta Hissar to Charjui the journey occupies between seven and ten days, dependent upon the size of the steamer and the character of the voyage. Sand banks are a perpetual menace to rapid navigation, and the length of time varies according to the immunity of the undertaking from mishap. From Charjui to Kungrad the same amount of time is usually required. The ports of call between Patta Hissar and Charjui are: Patta Hissar Shur Ob Kuyu-Shur Ob Chushka Gisar Kuyu Kara-Mazar Kelif Charshangu Ak Kum Makri Kundalem Jishak Karki Bashir Polvart Burdalik Narazim Sakar Bazar Charjui Below Charjui the stations to Petro Alexandrovsk are: Kavakli Gugerdjeili Ak Rabat Sartarask Uch Uchak Itchkeyar Meshekli Pitniak and Petro Alexandrovsk. The boats are of old construction and only number five in all. They are supplemented by a fleet of barges of large and small capacity, the larger class carrying 12,000 poods, the smaller, of which there are two divisions, carrying 5000 poods and 3000 poods each.