Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 3) (London, 1835)

CHAP. XV.

TOORKMUN SONGS.

99

THE TUKA TOORKMUNS TO THE KOORDS.

Lootf Ali Khan ! Your greatness is gone, it is time to lead

you away captive, Begler ! *
It is time to marshal our forces at night, and prepare for a

" chupao " f in the morning.
The dust of your fields' shall blow away under the hoofs of

the Toorkmuns.
The Tukas will bear off your daughters arrayed in velvet.
Thanks be to God, my name shall rebound unto the skies.
If you know the year of the goat^:, know that I shall then

plunder Meshid.
All your hopes in Khorasan shall be broken. You will now

be obliged to flee to Tehran, Begler !
1 have an hundred noble youths who watch you.
Nor do they lack attention ; they will drag you to my presence,

Begler!

Oh, Begler ! I '11 bear off your guns to Khiva : your power is
gone.

I '11 assemble my warriors on the plain.

If you have sense, remember my advice.

Send me a youth and a beautiful girl as a tribute.

Oh, Bhaee Mahommed ! § this is the time of my happiness.

The Koords, though a Persian tribe, are as much
addicted to plunder as the Toorkmuns ; and there
is, perhaps, greater spirit in the following song in
reply to the Tuka Toorkmuns : —

* Lord or chief. f Foray.

X This is the manner of reckoning their years.
§ The name of the poet.

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