'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎105] (140/714)

pF- ■ • T
FROM ASHKABAD TO KUCHAN
105
his manner and locution were those of one habituated to command.
In parleying with the interpreter he showed great animation, and
when calling for his kalian (the Persian water-pipe or narghileh),
or issuing an order, his utterance was an imperious growl. At his
left hand sat a Seyid (i.e. descendant of the Prophet) in a green
turban and prodigious khelat of dark blue colour, who occasionally
interpolated remarks when appealed to, and generally acted the
part of an echo to his master. One of the younger sons of the
Khan, a boy of fourteen, was also present, and a mirza or secre
tary was afterwards called in, who understood a few words of
French. A group of attendants stood at a little distance, and ran
to and fro with kalians, tea, coffee, and ices.
In the two conversations which I enjoyed with the Khan—for
he returned my visit early on the following morning—he said
Conversa- ma ny quaint and characteristic things which I shall not
tion here repeat at full length, but the bulk of which may
advisably be condensed. I soon found that I was dealing with a
man who, whatever his common delinquencies, was in full pos
session of his faculties upon the present occasion, and who had an
acute and questioning mind. He occasionally displayed an igno
rance that in a European would be puerile; but this mixture of
childishness and sagacity is characteristic of the Oriental intelli
gence, and is natural to a state of life where mental development
is crushed by restricted surroundings and by q, total lack of general
experience.
In reply to my question, he could not tell me how many subjects
he possessed, because they were never counted. But there were
40,000 houses under his rule (I am afraid a great exag-
Question , >
and geration), and each house paid one toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (six shillings)
in taxation (a greater still), and each house supplied an
armed soldier (the greatest of all). They were very good soldiers,
and would fight anybody. This gave me the opportunity' I desired
of sounding the old gentleman about Kussia and his Russian pro
clivities. I observed that Khorasan was a very rich country, and
that it was sometimes said that the Russians wanted to take it.
' How should they take it ? ' he said.
'In the same way that they have already taken Akhal Tekke,
he replied.
' No, that is out of the question ! The people will fight for it.
They will all gather together and fight for Meshed. They are good