'Report on the North-Eastern Frontier of Persia and the Tekeh Turkomans' [‎119r] (29/50)

I will now proceed to describe the roads from Persia to the Merv country. Foimerly
the canals from the Tcjcnd and Murghah ran a long way out, and there was very
little desert, but now there is a serious amount of desert to encounter. All canals
from the Tejend having fallen into ruin, and the canals from the Murghah not ex
tending nearly so far as they used to do.
Firstly, I will describe the road from Mahomadabad in Daragez to Kala Kouchid
Khan which was given me by Sari Beg. I myself met Sari Beg on the road from
Kala, Koushid Khan to Mahomadabad, near Lutfabad, in the Atak country. On this
occasion his camels had made the joueney in six marches from the .Merv country to
Mahomadabad. This is, however, unusual. Eight marches is the regular number.
Horsemen sometimes do it in four when they are carrying letters.
Route No. 1.
From Lutfabad to Chash Tepe, 20 miles.—No water ; is only a resting place for
camels.
At Keran, 21 miles.—No water. It is only a halting place.
Chungul, 22 miles.—Water in plenty. A large hole filled with water from a branch
of the Tejend river. There are tents, and cultivation ; this place is sometimes called
Oubah Tejend. The inhabitants are Merv Tekeh ; they generally go away in summer
after they have harvested their crops.
Yol Airtee, 22 miles.—No water. A mere halting place.
Kumi Yap, 21 miles.—Ditto, ditto.
Birkuz Chah, 21 miles.—A well of water. No inhabitants.
Kara Yurmah, 21 miles.—An inhabited place, chiefly by camel owners of the Tekeh
tribe who come here to graze their animals. Water from a canal from the Murghab
river.
Kala Koushid Khan, 22 miles.—This day’s journey is through a thickly inhabited
country. Cross Murghab river.
Total, 170 miles.
A slightly different road was given to me by Fasheh Khan, the chief man of Askabad,
whom I met at Lutfabad at the house of Syd Aly Khan, the governor of the portion
of the Atak country which belongs to Persia. Syd Ali Khan is the deputy governor
for his brother, the Begler Begi of Daragez, under whom both Daragez and Atak are
placed. Fasheh Khan is a relation of Mukdum Kuli Khan, and belongs to the Wakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator.
clan of the Akhal Tekeh tribe. He had come in to pay a visit to Syd Aly Khan when
I met him.
Route No. 2.
Fasheh Khan said, 1 go from Lutfabad to Adana Awaz, 40 miles.-
little water from a small branch of the Tejend river, generally dry,
fills a hole where water is found.
Mahmur, 36 miles.— Water from Tejend and also from a fine well,
times of some importance.
Birkuz Chah, 42 miles.—Water from a well.
Karayab, 22 miles.—Water from canal from Murghab.
Kala Koushid Khan, 24 miles.
Total, 164 miles from Lutfabad.
Fasheh Khan said “ I do not understand about distance, but these are the stages for
horsemen.” His account was corroborated by Syd Aly Khan, who had, six months pre
viously returned from Kala Koushid Khan by this road. The distances moreover tally
very nearly with those given by Sari Beg. Sari Beg, in Route No. I, gives 170 miles as
the distance from Lutfabad to Kala Koushid Khan, and Fasheh Khan gives 164 miles
from the same place, but by a slightly different road. Turkomans are always vague
about distances, and these distances can only be approximate. I asked Sari Beg, “ Why
do you not go by Mahmur as other people do ?” He answered, “ I am afraid of my mer-
“ chandise being plundered by Akhal Tekeh, as Mahmur is nearer their country, so I
4 ‘ go by Chungul, instead of by Mahmur. I know about Mahmur; it is a place situated
“ about 20 miles from Chungul.” He said, “We cross the Murghab near Kala Koushid
“ Khan by bridges ordinarily, but sometimes the Murghab is crossed in the spring in
“ boats.” I asked Sari Beg if he had ever been from Kala Koushid Khan to Charjui.
He said he often had, and that the distance was a little more than that to Lutfabad and
that he did the distance in nine marches with his camels, instead of eight which is the
usual time to Daragez. He said, “ 1 much prefer the journey to Daragez.” On the
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