Prince Bekovitch was authorised to undertake the
enterprise.
In 1714 a reconnoitring expedition left the shores of
the Caspian in the direction of Khiva. With this par-
ticular expedition everything went well, and maps were
sent to Peter of the new region thus explored. The
result was, of course, only partial, and much more
remained to be done before even the old channel of
the river could be determined. In the following year
Prince Bekovitch was entrusted with a larger force,
not less than six thousand men ; but a large portion
of this army remained at Krasnovodsk bay. He
reached Karagash, on the Khivan frontier, with about
three thousand troops. At first the Khan opposed his
entry ; but after a time, being won over by presents,
and doubtless hoping to obtain more, he permitted him
to remain. Prince Bekovitch did not hesitate to pro-
claim that he regarded Khiva merely as a half-way
house in his progress through the States of Central
Asia. But the Khan soon became discontented with
his guests, and resolved to destroy them.
In a weak moment Bekovitch consented to the dis-
tribution of his force, and they were overcome and
massacred in detail. The prince himself was reserved
for a more cruel fate. He was flayed alive, and
then murdered. Such was the termination of the
Bekovitch enterprise, which at one time promised so
auspiciously, and which was undertaken in so thorough
and adequate a manner. Peter himself had no further
opportunity of interfering beyond the Caspian, but he
paved the way for fresh enterprises in this direction
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