Travels in Central Asia Part 21

VI. Sarik.

VII. Tekke.

VIII. Goklen.

IX. Yomut.

Employing, then, the expression adopted by these nomads themselves, and annexing the corresponding words and significations, we have--

Turkoman words. Primitive sense. Secondary sense.

Khalk. People. Stock or tribe.

Taife. People. Branch.

Tire. Fragment. Lines or clans.

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The Khalks are divided into Taife, and these again into Tire. We proceed to touch briefly upon all these main stocks, devoting, however, our particular attention to the Tekke, Goklen, and Yomuts, who are settled to the south, as occasion permitted me to visit and to become more acquainted with these from personal contact.

I. TCHAUDOR.

These inhabit the southern part of the district between the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, counting about 12,000 tents; their princ.i.p.al Tire, or branches, extending from the former sea as far as Kohne Urgendj, Buldumsaz, Porszu, and Koktcheg in Khiva, are--

Abdal.

Bozadji.

Igdyr.

Burundjuk.

Essenlu.

Sheikh.

Karatchaudor.

II. ERSARI.

These dwell on the left bank of the Oxus, from Tschihardschuj as far as Belkh. They are divided into twenty Taife, and still more numerous Tire. The number of their tents is said to amount to from fifty to sixty thousand. As they inhabit for the most part the bank of the Oxus, and are tributary to the Emir of Bokhara, they are often alluded to as the Lebab-Turkmen, or Bank-Turkomans.

III. ALIELI.

These, who have their princ.i.p.al seat at Andkhoy, form only three little Tire, not counting more than three thousand tents.

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IV. KARA.

A small but exceedingly savage tribe of Turkomans, who, for the most part, are found loitering about in the vicinity of certain wells in the great sandy desert between Andkhoy and Merv. They are pitiless robbers, and are warred against as such by all the surrounding tribes.

V. SALOR.

This is the oldest Turkoman tribe recorded in history. It was already renowned for its bravery at the time of the Arabian occupation. Its numbers were then probably greater, for they have suffered very much from incessant wars. They number only eight thousand tents, although it is not ten years since they were in possession of the important point of Merve. They are now-a-days supplanted by the Tekke in Martschah and its vicinity. They consist of the following Taife and Tire:--

Taife. Tire.

1. Yalavadj ... Yasz, Tiszi, Sakar, Ordukhodja.

2. Karaman ... Alam, Gordjikli, Beybolegi.

3. Ana bolegi ... Yadschi, Bokkara, Bakaschtlore, Timur.

VI. SARIK.

These do not stand in less repute for bravery than the tribe of Salor.

Their numbers, too, are less than they were formerly. At present the Sariks [Footnote 96] inhabit {305} the regions about Pendschdeh, on the bank of the Murgab. With the exception of their neighbours the Djemshidi, they are in hostile relations with all the Turkomans. They are separated into the following Taife and Tire:--

_Taife. Tire._

1. Khorasanli-- Bedeng, Khodjali, Kizil, Huszenali.

2. Biradj-- Kanlibash, Kultcha, Szudjan.

3. Sokhti-- Tapyr, Mumatag, Kurd, Kadyr.

4. Alascha-- Kodjeck, Bogadja, Huszein Kara, Szaad, Okensziz.

5. Herzegi-- Yerki, Djanibeg, Kurama, Jatan, j.a.pagy.

The number of their tents, I was told, amounts to ten thousand.

[Footnote 96: The women of this tribe, Sarik, have a peculiar renown as manufacturers of a tissue called Agary. It is formed of the hair of the young camel (three or four days old), which, after being boiled in milk, during four or five days acquires an elasticity and consistence as of a silk pulp; this substance they afterwards draw out and weave into the material so called. It is of particular beauty and strength, and is in high esteem, and of great value as a material for forming the overdress of men. It is to be met with in Persia, and always fetches high prices.]

VII. TEKKE.

These form at this day the greatest and most powerful tribe of the Turkomans. They are separated into two princ.i.p.al encampments--the first at Akhal (to the east of Tedjend), and the second at Merv.

According to the best accounts, they have sixty thousand tents.

Possessing less land that is capable of being cultivated than the other Turkoman tribes, they are, so to say, almost forced by nature itself to commit acts of robbery, and are a real scourge in the hand of G.o.d to the north-easterly portions of Persia, to Herat and its neighbourhood. I have only been able to ascertain the following subdivisions; there are probably many others:--

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_Taife._ _Tire._ 1. otemiscli-- Kelletscho, Sultansiz, Szitschmaz Kara Ahmed.

2. Bakhshi-- Perreng, Topaz, Korszagry, Aladjagoz, Tashajak Aksefi Goh, Marsi, Zakir, Kazilar.

3. Toktamish-- Bokburun Amanshah, Goktche Beg, Kara, Khar, Kongor, Yussuf, Jazi, Arik Karadja.

VIII. GoKLEN.

Judging by the position and the relations in which I found these, I am justified in characterising them as belonging to the most peaceable and most civilised Turkomans. Willingly occupying themselves with the pursuits of agriculture, they are subject, most of them, to the King of Persia. They dwell in the lovely region so famed in history, that of the ancient Gurgan (now the ruins of Shehri Djordjan). Their branches and clans are as follows:--

_Taife._ _Tire._

1. Tshakir-- Gokdish, Alamet, Toramen, Khorta, Karavul, Kosze, Kulkara, Baynal.

2. Begdlli-- Pank, Amankhodja, Boran, Karishmaz.

3. Kayi-- Djankurbanli, Erkekli, Kizil Akindjik, Tckendji Bok Khodja Kodana Lemek Kaniasz, Dari.