can be conveniently brought to the heart of Central Asia-by the construction, that is, of a railway between the Caspian and the sea of Aral."

The question we have then to consider is, What is the most promising plan for effecting the diversion of the course of the Oxus? The following remarks represent more the opinions of a well-informed foreigner than those of the writer, who gives them here as the expression of one who is entitled to consideration upon Asian matters, and especially upon the question of the Oxus. It will be seen that at the least they qualify Herr Kiepert's strictures.

So far down its course as the Khivan town of Hazarasp the river Oxus flows in one unbroken stream. It is in its lower course from that place to the Arala distance of two hundred and fifty miles-that it is broken up into numerous channels, some on the right bank and others on the left. In the delta of the river which lies immediately below Nukus on the one side and Khodjeili on the other, the waste of its waters is extreme. It is computed that only half the volume of the river reaches the Aral, but there is no reason for disbelieving the assertion that the full volume extends as far down the river as Hazarasp. From that place the Doudon channel is traced in a north-westerly direction to Sarykamish, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, and although we are not as well informed as we could wish of the present condition of this channel, which certainly has been dammed at several points, there is some evidence to show that to clear it out would be neither an arduous nor a lengthy

proceeding. On that operation the whole undertaking would depend. The channel should be cleared out, levelled, and strengthened both in its embankments and its bottom, as the preliminary step. The Oxus should still be permitted to pursue its ordinary course towards the Aral while these works were in progress, and, if necessary, the first and principal dam might even be strengthened to prevent the river breaking through prematurely. The next step would be to execute the dredging operations that are no doubt necessary at Sarykamish; and it is probable that, to prevent waste and to secure the utmost economy in the volume of water, embankments on a large scale would also be required there. And then the Uzboi would have to be cleared out, levelled, and strengthened, just as the Doudon had been. The preliminary works would therefore consist in the preparation of two great channels-the one two hundred and fifty miles in length, the other rather more than four hundred miles-for the purpose of being the future bed of a great river, and in precautionary measures at the Sarykamish lakes lest some of the allvaluable stream should be wasted. In the scheme to which we have alluded these measures form the preli minary step.

When it becomes a matter of adapting means to ends, the great question of labour and expense has to be discussed, nor do the advocates of this particular proposal shirk the duty that of necessity devolves upon them. With regard to the question of labour, great stress is laid upon the fact that all the northern

Turcomans-the Yomults and the Chaudor in particular-would rejoice in a river being carried across Kara Kum, and would assist in securing this object so far as they could. The Khivans themselves would not be averse to the change, and whatever reputation they may enjoy for personal valour, they certainly have just claims to be considered admirable labourers and workmen. But perhaps the most favourable supply of labourers for these operations is to be found among the Karakalpaks* of the Delta of the Oxus, who have had experience in work of this kind, and are said to be desirous of following a settled life under any tolerable conditions. The labour question has never before prevented a Khivan khan carrying out either his works of construction or of destruction; and it would be strange indeed if Russia, with a wider field to obtain her workpeople from, and with greater influence and more money, should fail where the Usbeg rulers had succeeded. The labour difficulty is evidently not insuperable.

The question of expense is not so easy to be decided off-hand. The advocates of this scheme say that it would cost about fourteen million roubles,† and that the period required to carry it out would not be longer than two years. These views may be too sanguine; but they have been formed by men who have carefully worked the subject out. For that reason they may be considered to be approximate to the truth, even if not

*See "Shores of Lake Aral," page 157.

About one million five hundred thousand pounds sterling at its present value.

strictly accurate. By comparison we shall best be able to test the question of expense. The alternative scheme which Herr Kiepert advocates is a railway across the desert from Krasnovodsk to Khiva, for which the cost even for a single line would certainly be four million pounds; and when we add the cost of wear and tear, the deficit in receipts as compared with expenditure, the capitalised amount necessary for the undertaking would probably amount to five or six millions sterling. For a third of this amount it is asserted that the Oxus could be diverted from its present course to one disemboguing in the Caspian. The time asked for the scheme would not be longer than that which would be required for the construction of a line of railway. Both as a matter of labour, expense, and time, the scheme with regard to the Oxus has the advantage over that for the construction of a railway. Of course that does not make the former feasible.

The preliminary steps have already been discussed. It is now necessary to consider how the crowning operation is to be carried out. The fundamental principle of this scheme is that no premature experiment should be made in effecting any modification in the existing course of the Oxus. The river should in no way be tampered with while the Doudon and Uzboi were being prepared for it. And regarding the question from this intelligent point of view, the rupture of the dam at Bend is a disaster and not a benefit. The absurd ejaculations on the part of the Russian press when news first came of the re-flooding of the petty Loudon canal -from the tone of which nothing less would be inferred

than that the Oxus question had been solved-now appear revealed in all their absurdity beside the most intelligent scheme that has yet been devised by their countrymen. The Oxus cannot be brought into the Caspian save by very resolute action and considerable outlay. It will certainly not be accomplished in one stroke as if by a magician's wand.

The consummating act will only be undertaken when all the initial tasks, which have been specified, have been completed; but even then something more remains to be done than to break down the main dam at the entrance to the Doudon channel. The great recommendation of this channel over the others is that it branches off from the Oxus at a point where the river is in its full career; but is it to be only one arm of the river among others? Would the volume of the Oxus suffice to create a great river across the desert at the same time that a very considerable portion of its waters was diverted to the Aral and its other numerous outlets? There can be no hesitation in replying that it would not. It may even be questioned whether the volume of the Oxus would suffice to render a single channel across Kara Kum navigable. The destruction of the dam at the entrance of the Doudon channel would be only one portion of the consummating act. It should be followed, and that quickly, by the construction of another dam across the main channel of the river, and just below the point where the Doudon arm branched off. By this means the course of the river would be completely diverted into the Doudon channel, which would become the one