'Military Report on Russian Turkistan or Central Asia' [‎27r] (58/168)

41
I he following details concerning points of passage
over the Oxus, to which reference has been made in the
foregoing routes, may perhaps usefully be noted here.
Kerki .—A Russian military station, of some im
portance, on the left bank of the Oxus. A number
of Government buildings have, from time to time, been
erected, and there are indications of an intention to
increase the size and importance of the place and its
garrison The latter at present normally consists of
two battalions infantry, one cavalry regiment, two field
batteries, one company fortress artillery, and one section
ol the .I rentier Guard. 4 he river is crossed by means
of ferry boats drawn by swimming horses. Kerki is
believed to be connected with Termez with a
subaqueous telegraph cable in addition to a land line.
It is a regular port of call for the Amu Daria flotilla
and is directly connected with Charjui by a road and
telegraph along the left bank, and with Kilif and
Termez by a road and telegraph up the right bank of the
river.
Kilif is an excellent point for establishing a military
crossing. The river is here at its narrowest, 330 to
470 yards, the stream is not too swift for bridging, while
the banks are sound and accessible, and are approached
over firm sound ground. At least 20 large boats could be
collected within a short distance for rafting or bridg
ing, and a considerable quantity of timber suitable for
rafts to supplement the boats, or for the superstructure
of a bridge would be procurable in the neighbourhood.
The flat-bottomed boats are towed by swimming horses
and carry each 30 horses or 15 laden camels, or 100
infantry. The crossing takes from 10 to 20 minutes.
Native boats carry 25 men each, and could be lashed
together and platformed for the transport of guns. The
left bank of the river commands the right.
Chushka Guzar is not to be compared with Kilif as a
point of crossing, but it is not at all impracticable for
military purposes. The breadth of the river at this
terry is 1,300 yards. Three or four of the large boats
already described are kept at the ferry.