Bukala is located in today's Zibek, then the center of Islam in Central Asia. King Bukhara Khan witnessed the fate of several neighboring khanates being annexed by some western countries, and was extremely hostile to Europeans from then on. He vowed not to let pagans enter their land, regardless of their motives.
Muakraft and Trebek first came to Balka, Afghanistan, and then disguised as businessmen from nearby areas, wearing cloth towels and robes, followed the caravan to the hinterland of Central Asia. They soon arrived in Muslim areas of Central Asia and became the first Western Europeans to enter the hinterland of Central Asia. They were deeply intoxicated by the exotic scenery in this area, but the strange eyes of Muslims along the way quickly brought them back to reality. Although they made some changes, the local Muslims still admitted that they were pagans. So they are more careful than before, always alert to possible dangers.
A few days later, Muakraft and Treebeck finally arrived in bukala smoothly. When the local residents saw two pagans with white skin and blue eyes, they came up to watch. Some whisper, some point at them, don't know what to say, and intuitively seem to contain contempt and hatred.
After investigating the local customs and geographical environment, they set foot on their way home. Who knows, the two have since disappeared and their whereabouts are unknown. The British who came to Afghanistan to meet them waited and waited, but never saw them. It was a long time before the news came that they died of sudden illness on their way home.
Death does not frighten explorers. Eight years later, the East India Company sent Baines to Bukhara. He started from Kabul, Afghanistan, passed through Kunduz and Balka, the northern border cities of Afghanistan, then crossed the vast Karakum desert and waded across the famous Amu Darya River in Central Asia to Bukala. He stayed there for about a month. Fortunately, he avoided the bad luck of his predecessor.
When he came back, Bijns didn't take the original road, but went through western Central Asia and eastern West Asia, passed through Meshed, arrived in Tehran in the following spring, and later returned to India through Bushehr on the northern shore of the Persian Gulf.
Baines is brilliant. He wrote down what he saw and heard during his famous trip to Bukhara, and unveiled the mystery of this ancient Central Asian country to the Christian world for the first time.
Three years later, Burns returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he founded the British Trade Office. Later, several British people went to explore these ancient Central Asian countries, and generally died in other places, with no great achievements.
In the exploration of the ancient khanate in Central Asia, the most romantic is the Hungarian Van Bailey.
Van Bailey has been away from home for a long time, wandering around. He is full of interest in the Islamic world and is bent on uncovering its secrets. He is most fascinated by several khanates in Central Asia. Of course, he also knew that it would be fatal to break into these khanates openly.
1863, Van Bailey dressed as a Muslim and waited on the main road. A Muslim who came back from a pilgrimage to Mecca in the eastern soil passed by and walked with them. He made some Muslim friends along the way, and they opened their sincere hearts to him.
Van Bailey followed the pilgrimage team through the Karakum desert, which was in midsummer. During the day, heat waves roll in the desert; At night, there are strong winds from time to time, flying sand and stones. In such a harsh natural environment, Van Bailey deeply realized the significance of Muslim robes to them, and he also cherished his Muslim costumes more.
In July, Van Bailey finally entered Bukala with Muslims. As he has lived in Persia for a long time, he is very familiar with Islamic culture. He kept chanting: "God is great, praise God!" Live like a Muslim.
Van Bailey knelt down to worship Mecca five times a day. Before the service, he also carried out a "cleansing ceremony" seriously. He washed his hands, face, elbows and mouth in turn with clean water, and wiped his head and feet with his right hand dipped in water. Serious expression and pious attitude make real Muslims see no flaws.
Van Bailey tried to accustom himself to Islamic diet. He doesn't eat what Muslims don't eat; Muslims find it delicious, and he eats it with relish. What's more commendable is that Van Bailey can speak pure Turkish and Persian skillfully. In the communication, no one saw through his true face as a European Christian, and he pretended to be a Muslim.
Van Bailey lived in Bukhara for about three weeks, and then followed the pilgrims to Samarkand. Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. The streets are bustling with people coming and going, in sharp contrast to the desolation along the way. Muslims returning from Hajj are heading east, and they warmly invited him to visit China together. Van Bailey got cold feet. He was afraid that if he accidentally leaked the clue and was killed halfway, wouldn't he be wronged? So he said goodbye to them and stayed in Samarkand.
At this time, it coincided with the successful return of Samarkand's foreign war, and the local people went out of the city to warmly welcome them. Van Bailey certainly won't miss such a rare event. He was found in the crowd watching. The captain rode majestically on his horse. Somehow, the captain noticed Van Bailey in the crowd at a glance. He called Van Bailey to his side and asked this question from the beginning: "What are your plans for coming to our country all the way?"
Van Bailey took his time, quoted a lot of Persian poems casually, and then replied, "It is my long-cherished wish to visit the noble Samarkand."
The captain smiled and stopped talking. He waved and asked the waiter to take Van Bailey into a dark room. Van Bailey couldn't help but be jumpy, thinking, this is over. Unexpectedly, the entourage brought him a set of clothes with good texture to change into, and said that it was given to him by the C.C. Now Bailey is very excited. He took this opportunity to visit the palace.
In June of this year 165438+ 10, Van Bailey bid farewell to Samarkand, passed through Karhi, and went south to Herat (now Afghan) at the northern foot of Mount Paro Palmi, and then to Metz. Along the way, he dressed up as an Islamic dervish, traveled around, learned about local conditions and customs, and continued to seek exotic excitement.
Van Bailey truthfully introduced what he saw and heard in Central Asia in a later published travel book.