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slavery, because they were not accidentally flung on this territory, but were sent hither to obtain their rights. I resolved therefore to interfere for them. I felt myself, in fact, compelled to do so ; for had I refused my assistance, the poor men would have been detained, in consequence of the heavy debts they had contracted during their three years' stay at Bokhara. I accordingly addressed myself in this affair to Hoshbegi, begging him to take pity on these men, and to interfere in their behalf. He received myself and my petition very kindly, but appeared little disposed to do anything for the younger of the supplicants, as he had uttered some threatening words when asking for justice ; and he added, " they may plead their cause before the tribunal." But the judges refused to listen to their petition, alleging — first, that they had not appeared to make their claims immediately after the death of the testator; secondly, that those who appeared as heirs, being Russian subjects, could not be considered as legal claimants, but were reckoned among Christian sects, and treated as heretics ; and, thirdly, that the whole legacy being the result of a trade not tolerated in the Koran, i. e., wine, it ought to have been confiscated, as it really was. I solicited Hoshbegi to permit me to pay the debts of these poor men, and to take them with me to their home in Russia. This I obtained without any difficulty, so I liquidated their debts, and took them with me, accompanying the caravan with which the Russian ambassador also set out for that country. The most costly thing I carried with me from Bokhara, was a very beautiful horse, of a breed called argomak. This horse, the beauty of which was admired by every connoisseur, was provided with all its appurtenances; such as a silver bridle, a Bokharian saddle, a richly-adorned caparison, &c. This noble animal was a stallion four years old. I destined it as a present for his Majesty the late Emperor of Austria, Francis I, with a view to its serving as a riding-horse and a sire. I ventured to do this as an Austrian subject, and after an absence of twenty years, to manifest tny loyalty and faithfulness