New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-01
IN THE HEART OF ASIA.

REACHED THE CITY OF THE rUECoMANs-
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF THE COUNTRY AND
THE PEoPLE-sURRoUNDED BY RoBBHRs AND
TIIIEyING TURCoMANs-THE SCENE AT THE
COUNCIL AT MERv-A QUESTION OF LIFE OK
DEATn-mUMoR AMID STRANGE SURROUNDINGS.
The London correspondent of The TRIBUNE,
cable dispatch called attention to the interest
that had been excited England by the letters OF MT
O'Donovan, the correspondent of The London Ddftg
Ners, who is prisoner at Merv. UP TO july II
had been printed and they form
narrative both of the country through which the
intrepid correspondent pushed his way and OF the
manners and customs of the natives whom he met
themselves tell the story OF his narrow es
capes; through all the account which is written
with singular cearness and simplicity, there runs de-
lightful vein OF almost unconscious humOr. Merv la
the southern border of Tuksan nearly north OF
the line separating Persia from AfghaDstan The coun
try is sparsey inhabited by tribes of Turoonlans.
When summoned before the Council of Elders at Merv
Mr. ODonOvan explained his presence in that the
way place follows:
81 said that a native of that part OF FRANCISCAN
called England that my present occupation observ
ing and reporting the progress of the Russian
and that fleeing before Skobeefs advanced had arrived
at Merv" His journey made from Keat, the capital
of Beloocsan Merv being about 600 miles distant to
the north by wost At Kaka his deserted him,
and he was forced to turn back toward Keat. Once
among the mountains, however, and accompanied only
by his two servants he struck out boldly for Merv OF
the country at this point he says:
Road or beaten path of any kind there was none.
with giant reeds and canebrakes Pheasants rose by
a I nSey AND through ts and
an occasional glance was caught OF leopard or lynx
was one OF primitive nature. Very probably was The
first European who ever rod that way Indeed except
myself there but little for anyone Euro
cesses The ground at length becoming swsmpy to a
dangerous extent was Obliged to ascend the lower hill
slopes not only TO gain hrmer ground but also obtain
view over the piln and take bearings for my future
From the summit grassy HIN some hundred feet in
height obtained magnificent view OF the plain reach
imitabie distances Early though season the noon
marine tint which northern cIimes we are aceus-
earth Far and wide we're Scattered Mr ie
midday blaze. Scores of ancient mounds dotted the
SSons @ and dancing IN the mirage had
mind with sense Of desoaton and lonenes tb baf
under the circumstances far from agreeable.
ruthless rnfans lying perdu among ruins and
II can well be lmagined~how carefully scanned the
should follow.
TAKEN FOR A RUSSIAN SPY.
Descending the bill he rode TO DushalIh, twenty-five
miles distant plains where dandelion, sage fox
glove, thistle mnts of all kinds. thousand other
plants grew luxurianty," where a square ward of
grassy sward was rare phenomenon" Here he first
met the Merv Tekke the inhabitants the town coming
hithef from Mery only during sowing land rearing
OF the scene in the town and his reception Mr. ODono
van writes:
Uncouth forms and curious eyes were gazing at me
following was evidently taken for Tf
rE4g 70 assess the newly planted ground When tho
w sGoa r within as the e eyes fell
holows were half filed with reddisrSroWn @u,d Of
and Suo and human being ANNA Shis stood ID
what at first sight seemed gigantic stocks corn They
of
great sheayes Of giant reeds placed IN ean-to fashion
they usually do on these plains groaled and grunted
couple OF hundred horses, none of them very remark
dsneveled hair and wild clad in long flowing
their only attire gazed round at me with M
look Fifty or sixty with colossal sbeepskn hats
came forward to meet The chief Adjem serdar,
that he had not a very clear conception '" Of
wh9 nnsbS Tas' or Of the nature q business
which not reed hut single chamber with earthcn
could barely stand upright beneath the rough roo o
hewn pine trunks fire of camels dung smouldered at
Low doorway The room speedily became crammed to
little short erocous They literally thrust their noses @es
into my face, and seemed DESTROYS Of looking down nv
was The majority were the opinion tSat al
g Russian spy, but an active minority was in my
,Adtem serdar the local chief came up to where was
less Thought was to new and unforeseen pieoe Of
in M viz that the greater number Of people
look sharp after my horses He had he said
by the fetlocks aud presented me with a coecfion NJ
iron Instruments resembling small resping hooks and
phderslzed crowbars, which informed were the
keys OF HE padocks securing the chains TO make mat
ters d0ubly sure, couple OF trusted henchnen made
close alongside them After supper-tR usual mess Of
w hs bare and Sswsd
@ It to w say a We al m h Place
The huge black heas sprlnging and dancing me-
AN ADVENTURE WITH NERv TEKKFs
FURNISHED with an escort OF four men he was allowed
10 resume his journey toward MeEv. But soon "a revolt
broke out among his followers who refused to accom-
pany him further. through fear that some harm woud
ociai them Tor leading stranger to the jealously
guarded city. Nothing dsunted however O'Donovan
told them return set out with his two attendant,
toward Meneh, neighboring town. The trembling of
the heated air In contact with the plain made distant
objects seem endowed with life and notion and time
ana again his attendants frightened half out of there
wits by false alarms An hour before sunset cana
areal alarm Two horsemcn were seem guns were nm.
siung, but the newcomers proved be Merv Tekkes
from Meneh roaming about the lookout for prev and
they joined the explorer Soon the party arrived at
heneh, runous old mad-walled fort" which is de-
scri5ed as follows: -
Inc women and children together with the cattle
itng strange looking wgwams without By the bIa1e
OF the camp fires could make some SCORES of Trco
sheaves around wooden posts planted in rowe The St
oong pits about r ee in SeS % consisting
with treebranches aud bushes on which was niisa %
the Interior where fire Of brambies and estf @
gave out an uncertain light and sitting smoke saddle
COMPANY with Turcomans coselY nacs al
together spent thoroughly miserable night waiting
mans went about their various occupations and was
slt little leisure 70 write these lines The task is no
oasy one Tor the place swarms with every kind of YER
m,n and early as j. the season, cs in myrads
will hair fact