'Collection of journals and reports received from Captain the Hon G C Napier, Bengal Staff Corps, on special duty in Persia, 1874' [‎5] (18/396)

Though preparing so vigorously for dofencCj mucli doubt, is
entertained as to their resolution, and a prolonged struggle is
considered impossible.
They have but the one stronghold of Merve; beaten out ot
that, they have no point on which they could rally. They are
encumbered with their families and their cattle, which constitutes
their whole wealth. They are unaccustomed to any mode of
fio-htino- but their own. Though brave individually, they have
been for centuries in the habit rather of avoiding than of meeting
attacks. Even in their forays for plunder it is admitted that they
never attack superior numbers, never attack twice, and never meet
the resolute attack of an enemy. , . . i ^ •
They have seen also all the states of Central Asia submit m
turn, and they have before them the example of the Yemoots; a
tribe nearly as powerful, who have submitted at the price only ot
a nominal tribute. There are, therefore, good grounds to doubt
that, unsupported, the tribe would make any severe struggle tor
Their chief, Kousheed Khan, is reported to have said that they
would fight once and fight hard, and then accept whatever was
their fate. When the time comes, their determination may be
still further shaken, for they are, it would appear from this, not
far from half-beaten. j ,1
With assistance the position would be altered, and they appear
willino- to look for it anywhere but in Persia. In March 1873
they made overtures to the Afghan Government, asking lor an
asylum for their families to enable them the better to resist an
attack which the Russians had threatened to make on their settle
ments when the crops were ripe. The reply of the Ameer is not
known, but the families remain at Merve, and the threatened
attack has not been made.
I should mention in case the report has not already reached
vou, that these Turkomans of Merve have in their hands a
Russian prisoner, said by some to be an officer of the rank ot
Colonel, and by others to be a merchant. He was captured
eight months ago with a caravan taking commissariat supplies to
the Russian troops on the Oxus. i . i l j
A Persian officer from Sarraks informed me that he had
received a letter from him written in good French, from which it
would seem that he is an educated man. ^ j
The Russian authorities on the Oxus are said to have retused
to ransom him, accompanying the refusal with a very signmcant
threat If really an officer of the rank stated, it is almost incon
ceivable that he should have been left by his countrymen so long
imprisoned and subjected to the grossest indignities.
An attempt was made, the Governor-General informed me, by
the Persian Government to ransom him, but the price demanded
was too much. _ , . i • f
Regarding the Yemoot tribe, I heard on the road a piece^ ot
information "which, if confirmed, is, I apprehend, of much im
portance. The Kussian Governor (Colonel Lomakyn) ot the