'Collection of journals and reports received from Captain the Hon G C Napier, Bengal Staff Corps, on special duty in Persia, 1874' [‎58] (71/396)

58
Probably untrue,
as there has been
up to date no
news in confir
mation.
4th June 1874.—
G. c. n.
Akhal raid on
Russian
Yamoots.
An exaggera
tion, 10 or 12
families only
were carried
off.—G. C. N.
Tekkah
politics.
Tekkah
politics.
ment of Azerbaijan, who had been captured at the time of the
defeat of the Hashmat-ood-dowla at Merve. He acknowledged
with great glee that he had robbed his master before escaping and
paid him off many old scores. The third was a Syud of Turbut.
They were 40 days from Bokhara, and brought news that the Rus
sians had interfered in favour of the Khan of Kokand, had punished
his rebellious subjects, and occupied the place.
They had also built a new fort between Shura Khan and Bo
khara, at a placed named Karoughly. Kara Shaitan and another
Merve Tekka chief were at Bokhara in the service of the Ameer,
but their tribe was still hostile. They had made a raid and carried
off a number of camels from the vicinity of Bokhara at the time
the caravan was starting.
5t/i November. —Received a visit from a Turkoman Aksakal
who had just come in from the border. I learnt from him that
the Akhals had five days before chapowed" the settlements
of the Yamoots subject to Russia and carried off 50 families,
who were divided as slaves among the Akhal. The settlement
was within a few miles of Balkhan or Krasnovodsk. On their
return journey the raiders were overtaken by a messenger from
the Russians, calling on them to give up their prisoners, but
refusing to give ransom. A defiant message was returned. This
raid was in retaliation for a previous raid of the subject Yamoots.
The Akhal are on bad terms with them on account of their sub
mission to the Russians and consider them now fair game. The
Aksakal was of opinion that nothing would stop his people from
raiding the Yamoots and other Russian subjects but an order from
the JBmglish Government, whom they consider their protector.
This is the story that I hear from the Tekkah everywhere, and
they probably have had some sort of promise of assistance made
to them by Yakoob Khan or the Ameer. Baba Khan, son of
Kousheed Khan, is said to have accompanied the Ameer to India
in 1869, and to have there obtained a promise of support; also
when lately sent to Yakoob Khan, he returned with an agreement
from the Afghans to give the Merves support when required,
irom another quarter, i.e., direct from Merve, I heard that he
haxl returned with an unsatisfactory answer, the Afghans pro
mising only guns and powder when required. This is more likely
to be.the true version, though the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. in his troubles would not
be likely to be sparing of promises.
That the whole of the tribes are willing and anxious to put
themselves under British protection is certain, and they appear to
have been given reason to anticipate a favourable reception. This
feeling is mentioned by Vambery, and I should be inclined to
trace it partly to a tradition of the policy of the officers who
were stationed at Herat, and in some measure to the communica-
tiou that we had with the western tribes after the occupation of
Ashurada by the Russians. Any attempts of Persia alone to
control the Tekkahs would certainly meet with little success at
present. Their prejudices are hostile, and their inclinations all
point towards an Afghan or English connexion.