Experience convinced me that the farther we advance in Turkestan, the greater is the disposition to perform these annual pilgrimages and toilsome journeys. The number of the Hadjis proceeding yearly from Khiva is, on an average, from ten to fifteen; from Bokhara, thirty to forty; but from Khokand and Chinese Tartary, between seventy and eighty. If we add thereto the rage of the Persians for pilgrimages to the holy places in Meshed, Kerbela, Kom, and Mecca, it is impossible not to be surprised at the great zeal in favour of such ramblings still prevalent in Asia. The seed from which sprang the migration of its ancient races, continues still to {410} exist, and but for the civilisation of the West and its mighty influence, that press closely upon Asia on all sides, who knows what revolutions might not already have taken place! THE ROUTES IN THE THREE KHANATS. A. Routes in the Khanat or Khiva and the adjacent Country. 1. _From Khiva to Gömüshtepe._ (a) Ortayolu, the middle of the three routes indicated by me in the commencement of my work, and which I myself took, has the following stations, and can be traversed easily on horseback in fourteen or fifteen days. 1. Akyap. 2. Medemin. 3. Shor Göl (lake). 4. Kaplankir. 5. Dehli Ata. 6. Kahriman Ata. 7. Koymat Ata. 8. Yeti Siri. 9. Djenak. 10. Ulu Balkan. 11. Kitchig Balkan. 12. Kören Taghi (a mountain chain). 13. Kyzyl Takir. 14. Bogdayla. 15. Etrek. 16. Gömüshtepe. (b) The route termed Tekke Yolu can be traversed on horseback in ten days, and is said to consist of the following stations:-- 1. Medemin. 2. Döden. 3. Shahsenem. 4. Ortakuju. 5. Alty Kuyruk. 6. Chirlalar. 7. Chin Mohammed. 8. Sazlik. 9. Etrek. 10. Gömüshtepe. {411} This route seems infested by the Turkoman Alamans; the reason appears clear, because by the ordinary way they can go so rapidly over large tracts of land. 2. _From Khiva to Meshed._ The routes are two: the one by Hezaresp and Deregöz southwards through the desert (the traveller can perform this journey on horseback in twelve days); the other way passes by Merv, and has the following principal stations or wells:-- 1. Dari. [Footnote 152] 2. Sagri. 3. Nemekabad. 4. Shakshak. 5. Shur ken. 6. Akyap. 7. Merv. [Footnote 152: Dari is reached on the first day from Khiva.] 3. _From Khiva to Bokhara (a high road)_. From To Farsz. Parasangs [2-4 miles] Khiva Khanka 6 Khanka Shurakhan 5 Shurakhan Ak Kamish 6 Ak Kamish Töyeboyun 8 Töyeboyun Tünüklü 6 Tünüklü Utch udjak 10 Utch udjak Karaköl 10 Karaköl Bokhara 9 60 {412} 4. _From Khiva to Khokand._