The New York herald., 1879-07-28
RUSS AND TURCOMAN.

BOSTON. June d, 1879. B. /. NOURSE.
RUSS AND TURCOMAN.
EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS FOR THE ADVANCE
ON MERvE-A PERMANENT LoDGEMENT AT
TCHIKIsLAR-METHoDs FOR MOVING A LARGE
ARMY ACROSS THE DESERT.
London Daily News correspondence.1
CAMP OF TcHIKIsLAR. NEAR MOUTH oF(
RIVER ArrEREK. June 20. 1879.
As tclegrsphed and wrote. General Lazareff and
his staff sailed from Baku to Tchikisar the 1st
inst had supposed that the bulk of the forces
concentrated here would begin their march
immediately on the arrival of the Commander
in-Chief. As all the troops had not vet
rived. and there q difficulty about camels.
the advanced guard only commences its march in
two days time. have obtained permission to
company this first detachment. which will be under
the command OF Prince Dolgorouki. aide -de-camp to
His Majesty the Emperor. The remaining troops
will follow In few days. tho entire force making
halt and concentrating. as am given to understand.
about fifty versts northeast Of Ckatte at the juno
ton of the Atterek and Sumbar rivers.
This station of Chatte. linked with Tchiks-
lar by two small military posts at points
where water is to be foundnamely. Karadta- Batter
and Yaghli Olum-I have already described. Taking
three days and half's march for infantry from
Tchikislar. To do it even in that time. in heavy
marching order, considering the fearful heat out
the bare steppes. is in itself small feat We shall
be longer route for the wells at the intermediate
posts far between for infantry marches and.
especially at this season. entirely inadequate
for the the supply of OF .,.aanl considerable , ioree:
the Atterek where men. cames and horses
will oe sure OF water. The nearest point Of the At
| ffu frnf hlIf xvtf hin fhn
last few days measures have been taken to turn the
current OF the river into an old channel which
brings water half way to the camp. 1t is intended
| to bring this supply to Tchkisiar itself by
ducts. the water available ut present being derived
from excavations in the sand. which only avail
able for a short time the growth OF vegetable films
and insect deposits together with the clogging Of
the sides of the excavation with saline matter.
| dering the construction of new ones necessary. A
| special employs. with . considerable number of
il told OF to look out for and keep up this in
| dispensable supply
BY the steamers daily arriving, vast quantities Of
corn and other requisites brought from Baku.
Petrovsk Astrakhan; troops slso continue dis
embark. As have already mentioned, the task Of
disenbarking ut Tchikisiar is most difhcult and
tom. Steamers OF hve or six hundred tons
are Obliged to lie three miles OF tho coast.
and land their cargoes in Turcoman luggers OF
shallow drsught. Even these cannot. when laden.
come than 500 yards. and Temporary pier of
sand aud piles has been constructed to this distance
and being daily heightened. As 1t is horses have
| to be literally pulled iorciby out OF these uggers
|
animals. Corn. hay and other stores landed in
| great measure by soldiers wSding out to the
iusgers aud carrying each sack or bundle
ashore their backs For the future bread
supply of the army large permanent bakehouse
is in course of construction; and large watts to
tain the petroleum refuse (astatki). the future
fuel, have been established the shore. Another
great CAUSE OF delay III the marching OF the expedi
| ton apart from the delay consequent the dfi-
Guilty OF dsenbarking troops. has been disappoint
ment with regard to camels. 1t being practically
impossible to convey the very large nber of these
IN nv WI Tn
them by land PEI sis or from krasnavodsk where
they had been concentrated from different Turcoman
villages further north and east, many arriving
from the neighborhood OF Astrakhan itself. For the
most part these canels have not been purchased
| Food is supplied for each efficient camel
together with a monthly pay of fifteen rubles-
animal Of ome hunarod rubIss 's
allowed. The drivers are mostly all Turcomans (Ya-
1 TnE KrnaHrsE (KrRorrz,
These Kirghese are among the most sinRusrly
costumed individuals one could In this
land of uncouth garments Even in this scorchinx
climate they hidden under voluminous
ings OF heavy shecpskins, which are evidently for
them ~ proof against heat as apainst cold. Tho
hesddress resembles huge conical nightcap of yell
lowish leather ending behind In cape Of the same
material. the portion around the forehead and
forward edges OF the cape being trimmed with
heavy tur. The winter cap and costume Is much
lighter. have seen dozen of these mel drivers
20 to sleep IN the midst of scorching sand waste.
huddled together like many of their beasts. and
scarcely istingushable from them IN outward ap-
peArance-Dare hiue rnygcu nealcu toBcther,
half suflocatcd but. perhaps. half degree cooler
than the white blaze light outside. The Turco
mans dress may be uncouth enough, but II IL neat
compared to that of these ragged tatcrde
maons OF the northern steppes 1t seems that their
charscter quite irregular As their costume. Dur
ing the of the camel trains from krasnavodsk to
Tchikislare certain number OF csmels. IN or about
| sixty, disappeared subsequently the owners ap-
peared, declaring that the animals had fallen dead
| during the march. and evidence produced their
| tails still fresh and bleeding. Owing to preceding
events OF similar kind the claimants for compensa
tion for their dead beasts placed under arrest
and commission of inquiry was set ON foot. An
exploring party sent out to reconnoi the track by
which the camcls had come found the animals sup
posed to have died peaceaby cropping the stunted
heritage OF the plains. but minus their tails. Under
the circumstances the crime was grave one.
THK CAMP AT rcHrKrsIAR
The camp ct Tchtkislar has been largely augmented
since my last visit. The almost deserted strand
covered for two miles Of its length with tents aud
pckcted horses. 1t Is good days walk to go round
1t. When / landed saw one battalion OF infantry
and some sotnias or squadrons OF Cossack and
Turcoman cavalry passed in review by the coui-
Inander -in-chief There were eight squadrons OF
Cossacks. the first four being irregular Caucasian
or rather robe, and schako of white
lambs wool. Tied round the neck. and hang
ing back between the shoulders, was the
| scarlet bachek or hood used In severe weather.
They seemed splendid body of men. but looked too
heavy tor their horses These horses though SEEM
| ingy well kept and wiry are. am afraid unequal
TO the task OF competing with the long legged almost
| thorough Turco man animals Resist q charge
| they undoubtedly will. but for overtaking the
routed cavalry of the enemy believe they have not
| the slightest cnsnce The next four squadrons
Cossacks of the koubAn. In somore eolored robes
ing than their predecessors, but am assured that
! they are steadier troops aud have much more
service.
rHR SWORD DESERT
All this irregular cavalry IL armed with tho "fusil
l Grss," Oh modified chassepot Of tho French army,