Page:England & Russia in Central Asia,Vol-I.djvu/153

 Rh from the Caspian and Persia to Herat. All these Persian and Turcomanian roads lead to Herat. It is the central point from which routes branch off in every direction. There are roads from Herat that, if followed up to their termination, will take one not only to Moscow or Calcutta, but to Pekin and the shores of the China Sea. It is one of the hearts of Asiatic life.

The first of these roads — and the one of which we have lately heard the most, owing to Russia's pledge not to violate the soil of Persia — is that from Krasnovodsk which leads to Kizil Arvat, and thence along the slopes of the Attock to Ashkabad, Abiverd, and Sarakhs. From Krasnovodsk to Kizil Arvat is two hundred and seventy-five miles, from Kizil Arvat to Sarakhs two hundred miles, and to Herat one hundred and thirty-three more. This road has been on several occasions used by General Lomakine in his advance into the Akhal country, and it certainly gives Pussia a new route from the Caspian to the vicinity both of Merv and Herat. Without violating any treaty, and even without acting in direct contravention of the tacit understanding between the English and Russian Governments that Merv was not to be touched, Russia can push troops forward as far as Abiverd, thus bringing Merv and Sarakhs within her immediate control. The former place is one hundred and fifty miles from Abiverd, and the latter eighty. Although we do not possess as full information as necessary of this route, there appears to be no doubt but that it is available for the passage of ten thousand men, and