DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0107
chap. xv. RUNNING DOWN PARTRIDGES.
91
" have me a Mahommedan;" and I repeated the
names of the first four Caliphs, the watchword of
the Soonees and Toorkmuns, who are all of that
persuasion. " Bravo !" cried my new acquaint-
ance ; "I knew I was right;" and we journeyed
together with great delight, I personating a charac-
ter which had been forced upon me: nor was it
sufficient that my creed was settled; the Toorkmun
also fixed my country, which was Cabool. I did
not allow t;ie opportunity to pass which thus pre-
sented itself of improving my knowledge of the
Toorkmuns, whose lands we were once more to
enter.
My friend dashed off with great precipitation
among a crowd of his countrymen, to run down a
" kubk," or partridge, which rose near us. This is
an easier matter than would be at first imagined, as
the number captured soon proved. These birds fly
once or twice, seldom thrice, and are then picked
up. The Toorkmuns were delighted with the sport,
and I participated in their excitement, though I did
not join in it. The long spears with which they
were armed, their great activity, and the horseman-
ship which they displayed, gave what I imagined to
be a just resemblance to their " chupao," when in
search of human beings. At a gallop, a Toorkmun
cavalier leans forward on his saddle, which gives
him an air of eagerness that is singularly interesting.
The whole scene was worthy of the ancient Parthia,
the very country that we now traversed.
Among the Toorkmuns I noticed an individual
loitering by the way, and humming some notes as
91
" have me a Mahommedan;" and I repeated the
names of the first four Caliphs, the watchword of
the Soonees and Toorkmuns, who are all of that
persuasion. " Bravo !" cried my new acquaint-
ance ; "I knew I was right;" and we journeyed
together with great delight, I personating a charac-
ter which had been forced upon me: nor was it
sufficient that my creed was settled; the Toorkmun
also fixed my country, which was Cabool. I did
not allow t;ie opportunity to pass which thus pre-
sented itself of improving my knowledge of the
Toorkmuns, whose lands we were once more to
enter.
My friend dashed off with great precipitation
among a crowd of his countrymen, to run down a
" kubk," or partridge, which rose near us. This is
an easier matter than would be at first imagined, as
the number captured soon proved. These birds fly
once or twice, seldom thrice, and are then picked
up. The Toorkmuns were delighted with the sport,
and I participated in their excitement, though I did
not join in it. The long spears with which they
were armed, their great activity, and the horseman-
ship which they displayed, gave what I imagined to
be a just resemblance to their " chupao," when in
search of human beings. At a gallop, a Toorkmun
cavalier leans forward on his saddle, which gives
him an air of eagerness that is singularly interesting.
The whole scene was worthy of the ancient Parthia,
the very country that we now traversed.
Among the Toorkmuns I noticed an individual
loitering by the way, and humming some notes as