DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0040
TOORKMUN LADIES. chap. xii.
appearance of a soldierlike and disciplined body.
The Toorkmuns are very fond of bright-coloured
clothes, and choose the lightest shades of red,
green, and yellow, as the patterns of their flowing
" chupkuns" or pelisses. They sauntered about
their encampment in a great state of listlessness;
and what have they to do but to live on the pro-
ceeds of their last foray ? They have but few
fields, and one or two individuals may tend their
countless flocks at pasture. Their dogs, indeed,
perform this office for them. These animals are
very docile, but ferocious to a stronger: they are
shaggy, appearing to be of the mastiff breed, and
bear a high price even among these people. The
martial habits of the Toorkmuns appeared in my
eyes the more striking, as they had cleared the
circle of their encampment of brushwood for about a
mile round. It had, I believe, been cut for fire-
wood ; but the resemblance to an esplanade, or a
parade ground, was none the less on that account.
In my notice of the Toorkmuns, I must not now
forget the ladies, whose head-dress would do honour
to the galaxy of an English ball-room. It consists
of a lofty white turban, shaped like a military chako,
but higher, over which a red or white scarf is
thrown, that falls down to the waist. Some of these
Toorkmun females were fair and handsome, adorn-
ing themselves with a variety of ornaments, that
were attached to their hair, which hangs in tresses
over their shoulders. Their head-dress is, perhaps,
a little large, but they themselves are generally on
a large scale, and as they never veil, it becomes
appearance of a soldierlike and disciplined body.
The Toorkmuns are very fond of bright-coloured
clothes, and choose the lightest shades of red,
green, and yellow, as the patterns of their flowing
" chupkuns" or pelisses. They sauntered about
their encampment in a great state of listlessness;
and what have they to do but to live on the pro-
ceeds of their last foray ? They have but few
fields, and one or two individuals may tend their
countless flocks at pasture. Their dogs, indeed,
perform this office for them. These animals are
very docile, but ferocious to a stronger: they are
shaggy, appearing to be of the mastiff breed, and
bear a high price even among these people. The
martial habits of the Toorkmuns appeared in my
eyes the more striking, as they had cleared the
circle of their encampment of brushwood for about a
mile round. It had, I believe, been cut for fire-
wood ; but the resemblance to an esplanade, or a
parade ground, was none the less on that account.
In my notice of the Toorkmuns, I must not now
forget the ladies, whose head-dress would do honour
to the galaxy of an English ball-room. It consists
of a lofty white turban, shaped like a military chako,
but higher, over which a red or white scarf is
thrown, that falls down to the waist. Some of these
Toorkmun females were fair and handsome, adorn-
ing themselves with a variety of ornaments, that
were attached to their hair, which hangs in tresses
over their shoulders. Their head-dress is, perhaps,
a little large, but they themselves are generally on
a large scale, and as they never veil, it becomes