On Horseback through Asia Minor

by Fred Burnaby

Overview

Frederick Burnaby (1842–85) joined the Royal Horse Guards in 1859, but, when not assigned to active duty, he crafted his own adventures. He ballooned across the English Channel, and travelled in Spain, Asia Minor and Russia. He was wounded, and eventually killed, fighting for the British Empire. His book, A Ride to Khiva (1876) gave a personal account of his hazardous mission into Russian territory during the 'Great Game' when the British and Russian Empires were vying for power in central Asia. It was an instant bestseller, and brought him overnight fame. This two-volume work, published in 1877, recounts his next adventure: a two-thousand mile journey through Asia Minor to assess Turkey's chances in the impending war with Russia. On the way, he creates vivid snapshots of the region and the people he encounters. Volume 2 covers the journey from Armenia to the Black Sea and includes numerous appendices.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108037600
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/22/2011
Series:	Cambridge Library Collection - Travel, Middle East and Asia Minor
Pages:	426
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Frederick Gustavus Burnaby was a soldier, traveller, writer, and pioneer balloonist. He was reputed to be the strongest man in the British Army, and spoke no fewer than seven languages. In 1875, on a one-man Great Game mission, he rode to Khiva in Central Asia, and the following year set out from Constantinople for eastern Turkey. In 1885 he was speared to death while campaigning in the Sudan, where he is buried somewhere in the desert.

Table of Contents

1. My host; 2. The Mohammedan school; 3. Radford; 4. The Armenian church; 5. Hasta Khan; 6. Kemach; 7. Erzingan; 8. Russia's conduct in Servia; 9. Climbing the mountains; 10. The Pacha's interpreter; 11. The European society in Erzeroum; 12. A conversation with the Pacha; 13. The weather; 14. The Turkish cemetery; 15. The Kurd; 16. Low hills; 17. Clearing the way; 18. Armenian lads; 19. A spy; 20. A Yezeed (devil-worshippers) village; 21. Dinner; 22. Villages; 23. No signs of Khoi; 24. The bazaar; 25. Kotoor; 26. The artillery at practice; 27. An extempore market; 28. Akserai; 29. My host; 30. Alongside the river Murad; 31. Mohammed's febrifuge; 32. The garrison of Kars; 33. The march to Ardahan; 34. Ardanusch; 35. The precipice; 36. Price of corn; 37. The journey is over.