"E.Voiskunsky, I.Lukodyanov. The Crew Of The Mekong (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

his time.
It took the caravan three weeks to reach the mountains. For ten days
they climbed higher and higher along a narrow path. It grew colder. Fedor's
heart leaped with joy at the sight of snow, but it made him more homesick
than ever for the snowy plains of Russia.
Finally they made their way over the pass and descended into the
flowering Vale of Kashmir, following the river Gilgit to its confluence with
the Indus. They crossed the Indus and some of its tributaries. Several weeks
later they entered the city of Amritsar, a big commercial centre.
So this was India! It was a land of strange buildings, unfamiliar
trees, colourful bazaars and copper-skinned people, some half-naked, some
dressed in white robes. Fedor drank in the marvellous sights with unfeigned
curiosity.
The Kashgar merchant decked Fedor out in new clothing and gave him an
opportunity to rest up. But at the inn he locked Fedor into his room and
ordered the servants to guard him, not so much because Fedor might escape as
because someone might try to steal him.
One day the merchant brought a tall, thickset Hindu, all dressed in
white, to see Fedor. The Hindu looked him up and down intently, then smiled
and seated himself cross-legged on a carpet, making a sign to Fedor to be
seated too.
During the years he spent in the East Fedor adopted many of the customs
of the region, but nothing was harder for him to learn than to sit on the
floor in Indian fashion, with the soles of his feet lying on his thighs.
"Sprek je de Nederlandse taal? the Hindu asked.
Fedor was amazed to hear him speak Dutch.
"You have nothing to worry about," said the Hindu. "If what the
merchant says about you is true you will have a fine life."
The Hindu then proceeded to question Fedor. He asked him about dams and
water wheels. They discussed European politics and Russia's war with Sweden.
Fedor was surprised to find himself conversing with a highly-educated man.
Finally the Hindu turned to the Kashgar merchant. Although Fedor did
not understand a word of what they said it was clear they were bargaining.
This went on for a long time. At times the merchant, accustomed to bazaars,
would raise his voice to a scream. The Hindu kept his voice low but firm.
Then there came the moment when he unwound his broad sash and removed a
small purse and scales with a single tray and a weight suspended from an
ivory rod. From the purse he took two precious stones that sparkled with
greenish lights. He dropped the gems into the tray, and, holding the loop of
the ivory rod in his left hand, he moved the weight along the rod with his
right hand to balance the scales.
The Kashgar merchant looked at the mark at which the weight stopped,
then carefully picked up the stones and examined them, first one and then
the other, against the light. He bowed respectfully and without saying a
word started unwinding his sash to put the jewels away inside it.
"You can see how much you are worth," the Hindu remarked in Dutch.
Fedor did not like the idea of being sold for such a high price. He
knew little about precious stones but realized that if he were ever ransomed
the ransom would be high. His family was not rich. They would hardly be able
to raise such a sum. The tsar had seen him only once or twice and probably