Proceedings of the
Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain)
Norton Shaw, Francis Galton, Clements Robert Markham,
William Spottiswoode, Henry Walter Bates, John Scott
Keltie
Published by, 1879
The Road
to Merv. By Major-General Sir H. C. RAWLINSON, K.O.B.
(Read at
the Evening Meeting, January 27th, 1879.)
Page 183
The skirt of the hills along this
line is called, as it is well known, the
"Atock," and is divided into three districts :
the Akhal Atock, the Deregez Atock, and the Eelat Atock ;
the Akhal Atock, which extends for about 160 miles from
Kizyl-Arvat to Deregez, is entirely inhabited by the
Akhal division of the Teke (Tekke) tribe of Turcomans ;
and I will now read yon a brief description of the
country, chiefly derived from Captain Napier's reports
published in the Society's Journal, but supplemented from
other sources.
The original
settlement of the Akhal Teke (Tekke), on the borders of Persia
was contemporaneous with that of the Merv Teke (Tekke),
of whom they are an integral portion. The whole tribe was
brought from the “Labab,” or banks of the Oxus
and has since maintained themselves successfully in spite
of frequent attempts to subdue or to dislodge them, and
in spite of the retirement of the main body to Merv.
Their success has been due to their own warlike
qualities, aided by the weakness of Persia, the feuds of
rival border chiefs, and their disaffection and
treachery.
The name "Akhal” applied
to this tribe, is borrowed from one of their chief
"obahs," or camps, near which are the ruins of
a large Persian town and mounds of fire temples. It
served in former days to distinguish them from the Teke
(Tekke) settled on the Tejen, and on the Kelat
“Atock.".
The country
occupied by the "Akhal” consists of a strip of
fertile land, varying from two or three to sixteen miles
in width, and extending from Kizyl-Arvat, about 160 miles
(W.S.W. from Balkan Bay) to Gawars, the most easterly
settlement. It is plentifully watered at intervals by
small streams flowing from the northern face of Elburz.
Between the lines of the streams the desert stretches up
to within a few miles of the base of the mountains.
The ruins
of several towns, said to cover large areas, are to be
found on the banks of the larger streams at Kariz, Akhal,
Ashkhabat, Annau, and Nissa. The ruins at the last point,
which is about 50 miles north-east from Bujuoord, are
said to be the most remarkable. The town is said to
have been the centre of a district known as "
Sham-i-Kuchak, ' or “Little Syria," presumably
from its beauty and fertility. Both the mountains and
hill-skirts are devoid of trees, but afford fine
pasturage.
The Turkmen
"obahs" lie scattered along the base of the
hills wherever there is sufficient water and pasturage,
and have a more permanent character than the settlements
of the other tribes, there being in fact little room
between the mountains and the desert for migrations. Each
"obah" consists of a number of tents pitched
within reach of a stone enclosure that serves as a place
of refuge from the sudden attacks of their Kurd
neighbors, to which the nomads are constantly liable.
The
position of the Akhal "Atock" is exceedingly
strong. To the north it is protected by an almost
waterless desert, the shortest line across which is
twelve days' march for a caravan, and is practicable only
for small numbers. South of it extends a mass of lofty
mountains, with few passes practicable even for mule
carriage. West, 130 miles of barren desert intervene
between it and the sea.
The fertile soil and good water
supply of the "Atock” enable the Turcomans to
raise all the grain necessary for their own consumption,
and a considerable quantity of cotton, rice, and silk.
They have no ready market for surplus produce, and
require little beyond that which their own fields and
looms supply them with.
Having fine pastures
and excellent blood, their attention is most devoted to
horse- breeding, and in local estimation the produce of
their studs is unequalled. Their bones are large and
powerful, and usually of finer shape than those of the
other tribes.
Page 182 -
Page 183 - Page 184
- Page
185 - Page 186
- Page
187 - Page 188
- Page
189 - Page 190
- Page
191
|