It gave me a shock, for my first thought was that the petrol-boats had caught fire. But they were all right; both were behind us. I gave strict orders that our two inflammable boats should always be moored at a respectful distance from the camp-fire and to the weather side of it.
The river was unexpectedly deep that day — as much as 8 m!
On the morning of April 14th we slipped along at a good pace through the clear, greenish water between wooded banks. Once more we passed a string of little islands, thickly covered with reeds. At Sepe Niazigi, where we encamped on the right bank, we had a visit next morning from ALA QULU, the beg from Chara. He brought with him 26o chin of flour, five new paddles and 27 fathoms of fishing-net. He regaled us with tea, bread and eggs in a satma, or shepherd's hut, on the river bank. He also presented us with a sheep.
A little farther on, at a place called Kuyush, we were met by another village headman, YvsvP BEG, who regaled us with shisliq. Among those in his company was old KHUDAI QULU, who took part in my march along the dry river-bed in the spring of 1900. I recognized him easily, although he had become wrinkled and bent. It was always a pleasure, both to my old servants and to myself, to meet after so many years and to recall our adventures in the past.
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