JBO'C's Historical Reference

Turkmen Part 1 - Turkmen Part 2 - Turkmen Part 3 - Turkmen Part 4 - Turkmen Part 5 - Turkmen Part 6 - Turkmen Part 7 - Turkmen Part 8 - Turkmen Part 9 - Turkmen Part 10 - Turkmen Part 11 - Turkmen Part 12

He was also very stern in his measures for the promotion of religious fervor, as indeed behooved a true fakir. Five times a day were loiterers in the streets driven into prayers, and a sense of devotion was quickened by the liberal employment of the whip. His police also carried a small memorandum book with a catechism to test the orthodoxy of the citizen who appeared to be neglecting his religious exercises; and in the event of his failing to give a correct answer; a punishment was inflicted upon so lax a Moslem. But this ruler did something more for the advancement of his religion than by a mere enforcement of its rites. He held out numerous inducements, such as free education and subsistence, to all such as desired to become mullahs, and it is said that his patronage of the madrassees — colleges — produced such great fervor among the people, that at one period the students in them exceeded thirty thousand in number. Much more might be said of the justice and the vigor of Mourad's government, but enough has been related to show that, in his way, this seldom-mentioned prince of Bokhara possessed many striking qualities of greatness.

The capture of Merv caused a rupture between the Courts of Bokhara and Kabul, and Timur Shah, the son of Ahmed Khan, advanced with a large army upon the Oxus. It is computed that the Afghan army consisted of one hundred thousand men, but whether this number is correct or not we may be sure that it was a very formidable army, being commanded by Timur in person. The Afghan army advanced to Akche, on the borders of the Merv desert, and there halted. The Bokharan army boldly crossed the Oxus at Kilif, and several skirmishes occurred between small detachments of either army. In these fortune favored Shah Mourad, whose principal strength lay in his cavalry; but he had the good sense to perceive that his interests would be better served by a peace than by a continuation of the war. Timur, who was by this time wearied of the contest, readily made peace, and Shah Mourad was permitted to retain Merv — his sole object. A few years later on he died, and was succeeded by his son Hyder Torah.

With the death of Shah Mourad, Merv speedily obtained its independence, becoming the chief possession of the Salor Turkmen. From that time to this it has been independent. Khiva has at several times sent armies against it, and even levied tribute from it; but the claims of Persia, Khiva, and Bokhara, and the aspirations of Kabul, have slumbered with regard to this ancient city of Khorasan during the present century. For seventy years and more the Turkmen confederacy — only, unfortunately for themselves, the confederacy has existed only in name — has been supreme in Kara Kum; and the various clans have maintained in their districts that freedom which has become their boast. The circumstances under which these clans exist are by no means identical with what they used to be, nor are they even similar with each other. Some are peaceful agriculturists, others are irreclaimable (?) robbers; this tribe is actually subjected to Russia, that is as free as the wind of its own steppe. Let us consider one and all of these clans. Firstly, let us take those who are most to the north. The Chodors dwell in the country between the Caspian and northern Khiva — that is to say, on the southern slopes of the Ust Urt. They are computed to number twelve thousand tents, with certainly not fewer than five and possibly six or seven persons to each tent. As they have of late years been undisturbed, and have settled down into a regular mode of earning their existence, it is possible that their numbers have increased since Vambery computed them to be of the number mentioned. Far to the south of the Chodors, but still in the vicinity of the Caspian, come the Goklens. These are, for the most part, subjects of Persia, dwelling along the banks of the Gurgan River, but some of them are to be found across the Atrek in the Sumbur region. Vambery computed them at twelve thousand tents, or at sixty thousand persons at the least. Mr. Schuyler gives them only a fourth of that number, but as very little is yet known of this portion of the Persian frontier it is impossible to affix accurately what the number of the Goklans may be. They are a settled people, carrying on agricultural pursuits, and the breeding of the silkworm; and they give the Persian authorities little trouble.

. It is amongst the Yomuds that the Russians have been most markedly busy, and the efforts of Lomakine, Markozof, and others, have not been in vain in this quarter. Through the intervention of the Russian authorities old feuds have been settled, and bitter opponents reconciled to each other. The Yomuds are divided into the two grand divisions, the settled Tchomura — and the nomad — Tcharva; but there are clannish distinctions of which we do not as yet possess full information. In the khanate of Khiva itself there is a large colony of Yomuds, who, it will be remembered, were chiefly settled on the lake Aibughir, and played a certain part in the Khivan campaign.

Turkmen Part 1 - Turkmen Part 2 - Turkmen Part 3 - Turkmen Part 4 - Turkmen Part 5 - Turkmen Part 6 - The Turkmen Part 7 - Turkmen Part 8 - Turkmen Part 9 - Turkmen Part 10 - Turkmen Part 11 - Turkmen Part 12

London, W.H.Allen & Co., 1879 8vo. 2 vols.

As seen on: http://books.google.com/books?id=cKABAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA223&dq=teke+salor#PPA221,M1

A special note this is drawn from Boulger's England and Russia in Central Asia. I have taken to edit it and standardize spelling. For instance Boulger mentioned two spellings Turkmen or Turcomans and proceeded to use Turcomans. I elected to change it to Turkmen since it is the more correct usage today. If this bothers you please read some other version since I am doing this or me rather than for you.