Page:England & Russia in Central Asia,Vol-I.djvu/65

Rh being maintained by boat alone—an effort will be made not to carry the river into its old channel beyond that town, but, by the construction of a canal—only three miles in length—from it to the Kunya-darya-lik, to divert the waters of the Loudon into that main channel which eventually becomes the Uzboi. We say that the Russians might attempt something of this sort, not that we think it would be successful, but because the tone of Russian official and scientific circles seems to be that something should now be done in this matter. Although the Loudon channel so far as Kunya Urgendj may be in a good state of preservation compared with the others, it is difficult to conceive how the Oxus is to be turned by it into the Uzboi, even if the Uzboi had been dug out and prepared for its reception.

There is consequently a very slight prospect indeed of the re-flooding of the Loudon canal being attended by any permanent result in so far as the diversion of the Oxus is concerned. Rather is it probable that the Khivans may seek to stem at once this fresh inroad, which threatens to flood a settled portion of the khanate and also to again fill up that portion of the country towards Aibughir which has become inhabited and settled. If the Russians find that their own design is futile they can scarcely forbid the repairing of the dam at Bend, which will be constructed on a stronger basis than before. In the absence of specific information of the state of things in Khiva it would be hazardous to venture an opinion as to whether the