This Tejend is the same river that washes Herat, called
by the Afghans tie Han Sud. From the Tejend oasis,
iteelf a base that can be made as good as that of Merv,
troops can march all the way alongside wat«r to Herat
itself. The Russians accepted the submission of the
Tejend Tekkes in 1381, and have treated the oasis as
Eussian territory since, repeatedly sending reconnoitring
parties thither to assist the people in extending the irri-
gation canals, and, while surveying the country as far aa
Merv, establishing firm relations with the people. The
final settled point of the Tejend oasis is distant only
thirty miles from Sarakhs, or 232} from Herat. Lessar
computes the entire distance as consisting of eight
marches. The Tejend oasis is distant ninety-five miles
from Merv ; Sarakhs seventy. Caravans are constantly
crossing the intervening expanse.
Connecting as Merv does Bokhara, £hiva. Afghanis-
tan, and Turkestan, it must become a great commercial
centre. General Abbott designates it " the granary " of
the country stretching up to Herat ; Colonel Bumaby a
" magnificent Stape " ; Captain Terentieff " a splendid
base of operations against India." In his minute on
Caudahar in 1880, Lord Napier of Magdala said : " If
the KuBsians are about to occupy Merv, of which Iliey



I



• My anticipation that Kuuia mi
fied liy eveaU. The EdkUbIi Goveri
they were not fbrewnniGd.
