Russia's relations with Bokhara. 187

of bringing no credentials. He came to treat with the proudest ruler in Central Asia as the bearer of a letter from the East India Company's agent in Persia, and he had only viva roce instructions for the conclusion of a treaty of the highest importance. No mission was ever more unfortunate, no envoy worse selected or less prepared. Within three days of his arrival at Bokhara Colonel Stoddart found himself a prisoner. At first he was confined in a house, but after a short time spent there he was transferred to the Siah-tchah, or Blackwell. This horrible abode,* which is in the center of the town, is twenty-one feet in depth; and here the greatest malefactors are generally confined. The descent into it is made by means of a rope ; and when Stoddart was let down he found there two thieves and a murderer, the latter having been incarcerated here for several years. With these criminals for his companions, the Colonel remained hvo months in this loathsome and filthy hole, covered ivith vermin and surrounded by reptiles, in killing which they ivere constantly occupied. Their food, such as it was, was lowered to them by the rope with which they had themselves descended, and much of their time was passed in smoking. When the furious caprice of Nasrullah had been satisfied, and he thought he had humbled the pride of the Englishman and impressed him with the terror of his power, he gave an order to the chief of the police to remove him from the Siah

• Ferrier's " History of the Afghans," page 447.