As the journies of the caravans, which arc purely com mercial, do not commence at stated seasons, and their routes vary according to the convenience or fancy of the merchants of whom they are composed, they are nt ither so well known, nor have they been described with the same degree of accuracy. We have sufficient in formation, however, to satisfy us, that the circulation of Eastern goods, by these caravans, is very extensive. In this way a constant intercourse is maintained between the countries in the north cast of Asia, and those in the south. Among all the numerous Tartar tribes, even those which retain their pastoral manners in greatest simplicity, the demand for the productions of China and Hindostan is very considerable. In order to supply them, caravans set out annually from liaghar, Sainarcand, Tnibet, and several other places, and return with large cargoes of Indian and Chinese goods. But the trade carried on between Russia and China in this part of Asia, is by far the most extensive and best known. Some con nection of this kind, it is probable, was kept up between them from the earliest period. It was greatly increas ed after the interior parts of Russia were rendered more accessible, by the conquests of Zingis Khan and Tamer lane, and at last a regular communication between the two empires was effected in the reign of Peter the Great. Though their capitals be separated at the immense dis tance of six thousand three hundred and seventy-eight miles from each other, and the road lies for above four hundred miles through an uninhabited desert, caravans travelled from the one to the other. The jealous vigi lance, however, with which the Chinese government ex cludes foreigners from a free intercourse with its sub jects, was alarmed, and the admission of the Russian caravan into the empire was soon prohibited. After va rious negotiations, an expedient was at length devised, by which the advantages of mutual commerce was secur ed, without infringing the cautious arrangements of Chinese policy. On the boundary of the two empires, two small towns were built, almost contiguous, the one inhabited by Russians, the other by Chinese. To these all the marketable productions of their respective coun tries are brought, by the subjects of each empire ; and the furs, the linen, and woollen cloth, the leather, the glass, &c. of Russia, are exchanged for the silk, the cot ton, the tea, the rice, the toys, &c. of China. This trade is carried on almost entirely by barter, and amounts an nually to not less than eight hundred thousand pounds Sterling. Nor is this the only place where Russia re ceives Chinese and Indian commodities ; a considerable supply of both is brought by caravans of Independent. Tartars, to Orechurg, on the river Jaik, to Troitzkaia, on the river Occi, and to several other towns on the Rus sian frontiers.
As it is by means of its caravans that almost the whole trade of Asia is carried on, and as this is a mode of con ducting commerce peculiar to this quarter of the world, and some of the northern parts of Africa, it may not be unacceptable, before quitting this subject, to acid some further particulars relating to their internal policy and regulations. Every caravan is commanded by a chief, or Aga, who has under him a sufficient number of janis saries, or other soldiers of the states through which they pass, for conducting them in safety to the place of their destination. They encamp every night in the neigh bourhood of some wells or brooks, which are all known to the guides, and here they observe as exact a discipline as an army during war. Before a caravan can be form
ed, it is necessary to obtain a written permission from one sovereign, which must be confirmed by at least other two. This permission must specify the number of men and beasts of burden, and the quantity of merchandise of which it is to be composed. The owners of the cara van may choose the officers, and determine the regula tions to be observed during its journey. There are com monly four principal officers, the caravan basha, or chief of the caravan, and three captains. The first is com 'limier in chief; the second commands during the march ; the third when it rests ; and the fourth when it happens to be attacked. There is besides these, a purser or treasurer, who has under him a number of clerks and interpreters. These keep accurate journals of every thing which takes place, from which, signed by the principal officers, those concerned can judge if their interests have been sufficiently attended to. There is another species of officers without which no caravan will take its departure. Arabian geometers, of whom there are at least three in the great caravans. These officers correspond exactly with our billet-masters and aid-de-camps. They direct the troops when they are attacked, and mark out their different quarters when they encamp.
As the greater part of the Arabian princes have no other revenue but what arises from plunder, they keep spies for the purpose of informing them of the departure of the caravans, which they often attack with superior force, and frequently succeed in carrying off considerable booty. In case of an engagement, the merchants, tra vellers, servants, &c. are expected to support the escort, at least, if they do not, they need never afterwards de pend on being supplied with provisions. If the Arabians are repulsed, a truce generally takes place, the articles of which are faithfully observed. But if the caravan be defeated, it is entirely pillaged, and the whole escort carried away as slaves.
It is a singular proof of the predatory spirit of the Arabs, that although all their independent tribes are zealous Mahommedans, yet they make no scruple of plundering the caravans of pilgrims while engaged in performing one of the most indispensible duties of their religion.
The gains of the merchants belonging to the caravans are often incredible. As an instance of which, we are told of a traveller, who, with goods for which he paid thirty pounds, by repeated barters and exchanges, in the course of one journey gained six thousand. These im mense profits, which are by no means uncommon, induce numerous adventurers to accompany the caravans, not withstanding the hardships and inconveniences of the journey, which in many instances are extremely severe. Unwholesome food, intolerable water, and often none at all, long and fatiguing marches through burning sands, which in summer commence at five in the afternoon, and continue without halting until eleven next day, and a frightful confusion of tongues, and of nations, are cir cumstances with which they must invariably lay their ac count. Besides, they are continually exposed to the robberies and thefts of a crowd of vagrants, who resort to the caravans for the sole purpose of living at the ex pense of the simple and unwary.