'Collection of journals and reports received from Captain the Hon G C Napier, Bengal Staff Corps, on special duty in Persia, 1874' [‎59] (72/396)

Turkomans.
With the Russians they have lately had some intercourse. Tekkah
Four of their leaclino; men have visted Balkhan (Krasnovodsk). P olltlcs -
One of them, Sophe Khan, who commanded the body of horsemen
that was met and roughly handled by the Krasnovodsk-Khiva
column has remained there; several agents from Khiva have
visited them. From Merve two Aksakals are at Khiva negotiatiflg
the ransom of the Russian gunner captured at Merve. The tribe
are as a body averse to any intercourse, but certain of them
(it would, probably, not be too much to say, any of them) are
always willing to go to Balkhan in the expectation of receiving
presents, &c.
An English officer communicating with the Turkomans through
Persia would find the Persians jealous, and the Koord chiefs
absolutely obstructive unless they were bought with a big price.
An officer could also not go amongst them with safety without Objections to
making some specific promises, or at least being received as an visitmg the
accredited agent, whose presence would raise expectations that,
unless further measures to control and advise the tribes were
taken, might lead to the ultimate injury of the tribe and to loss
of prestige by the Government that employed him.
Qth November. To Nowkhandan, 8 miles. —The Khan, who has Allahyar
several small ' c obahs " of the Akhal under his influence, i.e. within
reach of his 800 horsemen, and beyond reach of aid from their
fellow tribesmen, is of opinion that the Akhal at least are well
affected towards Persia, as represented by him, and that a little
show of force, coupled with conciliatory measures, would induce
them to submit and secure the whole Atak for Persia. lie is,
of course, he hinted, the only man on the border fit to carry out
such a policy. It might possibly prove a harder task than it
appears, but it still seems not improbable that the Akhal, at least,
in spite of their loudly declared contempt and hatred for Persia,
might, if properly managed, be brought to prefer a nominal
allegiance and the quiet enjoyment of their lands under Persian
rule, to extinction or the service of a Government foreign
to them in religion, customs, and mode of administration. The
solution recommends itself as feasible and less objectionable than
any other.
Marched with the Khan's son and a guard of 100 men to Now- LeaveDeregez.
khandan, a large village lying some miles up the course of the
Deregez stream.
Nowkhandan is the property of the Khan's two brothers, Syud
Mahomed and Mahomed Khan. It is prettily situated on undulat
ing ground between the mountains enclosing the plain to the north
and a low ridge that traverses it from east to west. ^ On a high
circular mound is a mud fort which contains the Khan s residence
and commands the whole village ; around are extensive orchards,
groves, and vineyards extending for two or three miles up and
down the stream. The grapes of Nowkhandan have a great local
reputation, and I found that very good wine was made and sold
without the usual intervention of a Jew or Armenian to take on