'Military Report on Russian Turkistan or Central Asia' [‎27v] (59/168)

42
Termez, opposite 1'ata Kesar, has within the last
few years made considerable progress as a military base.
It is connected with Farab and Charjui by a good road,
tit for wheeled traffic, along the right bank of the Oxus,
as well as by the Amu Daria flotilla. It is also connected
with Samarkand by a post road. It is in direct telegraphic
communication with Charjui, Kerki, and Samarkand.
The 4th Turkistan Rifle Brigade (four battalions), one
Cossack horse battery, a company of Fortress Artillery,
a pontoon company of Engineers, and a section of the
Frontier Guard are stationed at Termez.
At Pata Kesar ferry the breadth of the channel is
1,000 yards, current from 4 to 6 miles an hour, in the
summer months. There are four of the large boats
already described, worked with long sweeps, except when
there is a strong wind, when horses are used to tow, as
at Ivilif. The river here is well adapted for bridging.
The right bank slightly commands the left. The
comparative proximity of the river, at this point, to
Mazar-i-Sharif, and the fact that the sandy strip ot
desert to be crossed is only 9 miles wide, as well as
the close neighbourhood of Chushka Guzar ferry as
an auxiliary point of passage, all seem to render Fata
Kesar an advantageous point of passage.
Less important points of crossing, mentioned in con
nection with routes (25), (26), and (27), are:—
Aliwanj (Aiwanj) or Khisht Tapa. The river here
is nearly a mile broad, current about 4 miles an hour;
depth of main channel is said to be considerable.
The ferry is at Aliwani, about 5 miles lower down
stream than Khisht Tapa, during the summer
months. At Khisht Tapa the river is about 700
yards wide, in two channels. Though it wmuld be
an excellent spot for a permanent bridge, it is not
a favourable place for ferrying a large number of
troops, even in late autumn or winter, when alone
it would be practicable.
Tahht-i-Kuva ferry. The site of former gold-washing
operations lying about midwa) between the con
fluence of the Waksh on the right bank of the