DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0106
90
TOORKMUN ACQUAINTANCE. chap. xv.
countries as much property as horse-flesh; and Aga
Mahommed Khan had transferred the whole race
to Mazenderan. The rich pastures of the country
lay neglected : for what peasant would seek his
abode near the Tuka Toorkmuns, whose tents lie
but a few miles distant beyond the hills ? In the
society of two hundred of these people, we even did
not feel ourselves altogether safe. In all our bi-
vouacs, I bad hitherto escaped the damp ground
as a bed, but I rose in the morning stiff and be-
numbed by humidity and dews. The sun soon dried
my clothes, and good spirits (I do not mean brandy)
prevented any evil consequences. We were now
travelling among mountains, with alternate hill and
dale, and over a wild and romantic country. There
were a few stunted pine trees on the hills, but they
were oftener bare of any thing but grass. All the
people were kind and conversable ; and man requires
little else even in the arid regions of Khorasan.
A Toorkmun who had proffered his acquaintance,
by the way asked me abruptly to tell him the news
of Bokhara, recognising, I suppose, in my costume
the dress of that country. He addressed me in
Persian, which was no doubt as foreign a language
to him as myself. " I am a Firingee," said I; when
the Toorkmun pulled up his horse, and said, " Come,
" do not think you can play the fool with me, for
" Firingees have no beards; and your shaved head
" and dress belie your assertion." It was in vain that
I endeavoured to convince him of my real character.
" Soonee, or Shiah, which are you?" said he. " Be
'< it so," replied I, 9 since you are determined to
TOORKMUN ACQUAINTANCE. chap. xv.
countries as much property as horse-flesh; and Aga
Mahommed Khan had transferred the whole race
to Mazenderan. The rich pastures of the country
lay neglected : for what peasant would seek his
abode near the Tuka Toorkmuns, whose tents lie
but a few miles distant beyond the hills ? In the
society of two hundred of these people, we even did
not feel ourselves altogether safe. In all our bi-
vouacs, I bad hitherto escaped the damp ground
as a bed, but I rose in the morning stiff and be-
numbed by humidity and dews. The sun soon dried
my clothes, and good spirits (I do not mean brandy)
prevented any evil consequences. We were now
travelling among mountains, with alternate hill and
dale, and over a wild and romantic country. There
were a few stunted pine trees on the hills, but they
were oftener bare of any thing but grass. All the
people were kind and conversable ; and man requires
little else even in the arid regions of Khorasan.
A Toorkmun who had proffered his acquaintance,
by the way asked me abruptly to tell him the news
of Bokhara, recognising, I suppose, in my costume
the dress of that country. He addressed me in
Persian, which was no doubt as foreign a language
to him as myself. " I am a Firingee," said I; when
the Toorkmun pulled up his horse, and said, " Come,
" do not think you can play the fool with me, for
" Firingees have no beards; and your shaved head
" and dress belie your assertion." It was in vain that
I endeavoured to convince him of my real character.
" Soonee, or Shiah, which are you?" said he. " Be
'< it so," replied I, 9 since you are determined to