DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0079
chap. xiii. GOOZKAN SLAVES.
63
who had been gathering die (boozghoom) on the
hills. They were more terrified than we, for their
number made their fate inevitable had we been
Toorkmuns. Immediately the mistake was disco-
vered, a shout of delight raised the camels, and the
caravan moved on at double its usual speed, with
seven or eight camels abreast; nor did it stop at
the prescribed halting-ground, but pushed on some
eight or ten miles farther when the day dawned.
No sooner had we finished a scanty meal than it
was again in motion, and a little, after mid-day we
reached Ghoozkan, the first inhabited village in
Persia, and about fourteen miles from Meshid.
We halted a few hours at Ghoozkan, and had an
opportunity of observing the supreme joy of the
poor slaves, who had now reached their native land
in safety. Many of the merchants gave them
clothes and money to assist in their journey home-
wards, and it was with pleasure that we joined
in the charitable feelings of the caravan. A few
ducats purchased much happiness. Ghoozkan is
peopled by Teimurees, a tribe of Eimaks, and has a
population of about a thousand souls. They were
a miserable-looking set of beings, who used band-
ages as stockings, and covered their heads with
brown sheep-skin caps. The whole of the inhabit-
ants turned out to see us pass, and many of the
poor creatures asked, in melancholy strains, of the
different passengers., if we did not bring letters from
their captive friends in Toorkistan. The Toorkmuns
seldom spare Ghoozkan in their forays ; and the
last party had carried off six of their children, and
63
who had been gathering die (boozghoom) on the
hills. They were more terrified than we, for their
number made their fate inevitable had we been
Toorkmuns. Immediately the mistake was disco-
vered, a shout of delight raised the camels, and the
caravan moved on at double its usual speed, with
seven or eight camels abreast; nor did it stop at
the prescribed halting-ground, but pushed on some
eight or ten miles farther when the day dawned.
No sooner had we finished a scanty meal than it
was again in motion, and a little, after mid-day we
reached Ghoozkan, the first inhabited village in
Persia, and about fourteen miles from Meshid.
We halted a few hours at Ghoozkan, and had an
opportunity of observing the supreme joy of the
poor slaves, who had now reached their native land
in safety. Many of the merchants gave them
clothes and money to assist in their journey home-
wards, and it was with pleasure that we joined
in the charitable feelings of the caravan. A few
ducats purchased much happiness. Ghoozkan is
peopled by Teimurees, a tribe of Eimaks, and has a
population of about a thousand souls. They were
a miserable-looking set of beings, who used band-
ages as stockings, and covered their heads with
brown sheep-skin caps. The whole of the inhabit-
ants turned out to see us pass, and many of the
poor creatures asked, in melancholy strains, of the
different passengers., if we did not bring letters from
their captive friends in Toorkistan. The Toorkmuns
seldom spare Ghoozkan in their forays ; and the
last party had carried off six of their children, and