The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-03

paratively recent emigrants and. indeed the
whole Turcoman population OF the countries
adjoining the oasis has been only short time
in it's present seats. We must bear In mind
that the term Turcoman is confined TO nomads
as distinguished from tho settled branches OF
the Same race. who In Central Asia are styled
Turks. though the latter. Of course. must not
DO COMPOUNDED with the Osmani Turks Of
STEAMBOAT. who parted from the parent stock
many hundred years ago. II appears that tho
districts now occupied by the Mcrv and Akhal
Tekkes were peopled $50 years ago by settled
Turkish population OF the Same race as the
present inhabitants OF Bokhara. During the
reign OF Nadir Shah. who was himself OF pure
Turcoman blood. the Turkish inhabitants OF
Merv acknowledged the suzeraintv OF the Per-
sian monarch by tribute analogous TO some OF
the old feudal tenures OF Europe: that il to
say by the present OF nut or some fruit on
stated occasions After the death OF Nadir the
Persian monarchy decayed rapidly. and about
1870 years ago the Tekke. the Saruk. and the
Sailor Turcomans commenced their invasion Of
Persian Turkestan. The Akhal Tekkes then
got possession OF the territory which they still
occupy. and which. since the downfall Of
Geek Tepe. has passed under Russian sway.
While the Tekkes were occupying the western
part Of Persian Turkestan. other nomad tribes
we're journeyinR into the eastern settlements.
There were the Ersari. who settled on the
banks Of the Oxus at and about Charjow. and
tho Sailors and Saruks who pushed on to the
Murgab. After their arrival at that river.
Merv itself was destroyed. and its Turkish in
habItants almost exterminated by the power Of
Bokhara. Tho city of Merv. then captured
by the Bokharan conQueror. Begge Jan.
was tho third historic capital that had
existed under the same name. Seven
hundred thousand persons are said to
have persisted during the siege and subse-
auent massacre. and the ruins prove that q
dense population. now utterly swept away.
must then have occupied the oasis. The Box
harans did not remain in the conquered coun-
try. and the Saruk Turcomans met with no re-
sistanoe there when they moved their round
beehive huts close 10 the ruins Of Merv. The
destruction OF the city took place nearly q GEN.
tury ago. and from that time until the acces-
sion OF the present Shah to the throne Of Per-
sia the Saruks remained in undisturbed pos
session OF its territory. But about twenty-six
years ago the Persians attacked the Tekkes
dwelling In q district adjoining Merv on the
west. and compelled them to abandon their
settlements. The dispossessed tribes in turn
attacked their kindred tribe. the Saruks. and
after several combats drove them out Of Merv
to positions further south on the Murgab River.
The Tekkes were not left in undisputed pos
session Of their conquest, but. although they
were attacked by a Large army. made up Of Per-
SLAMS and OF Saruk Turcomans. they defeated
1t. and have retained their hold on the Merv
oasis until this day.
Before alludina to the manners and customs
Of the present Turkish inhabitants Of the oasis.
1t may be we'll to notice what Mr.. O'Donovan
has TO say about the three extinct cities. whose
ruins he visited in the course OF his Ave
months stay. ALI three OF them. curiously
enough. lie outside the present limit OF Guilt
walton. being on relatively high ground above
the reach Of the rude irrigation system kept
up by the nomad successors OF the civilized
Turks. The oldest OF the three ruined cities is
on higher ground than the other two. and at o
greater distance from the Murgab River. yet
within its walls once lay a small lake In which
water was stored for the use OF it's Inhabitants.
and through a gap In the northwestern angle
OF the ramparts formerly entered an irrigation
stream. the bed Of which is still traceable. and
which flowed from an ancient dam on the
Murgab. days journey beyond the present
dam at Benti. This. the most ancient city
which bore the name Of Merv. and probably the
first walled town erected within the oasis. was
destroyed by tho Arabs toward the end OF the
seventh century. when the lieutenants OF
Omar. having overrun Persia pushed on
toward the Oxus. The walls Of this Oldest
Merv. now known - 0iaour Kala. arc still
standing. though at tho southeastern angle.
where the ground is low. they are at least sixty
feet high they enclose regular quadrangular
space about half mile long from east to west.
and third Of mile long from north to south.
There are the remains OF palace In the centre
Of the city. and Of fortress or citadel in the
wa apOla Tho xvh Of
within the ramparts Is Uttered with the debris
OF broken tiles and earthenware vessels. many
OF the fragments exhibiting the most beautiful
tints. and in some cases prismatic colors.
The second OF the ruined walled towns once
called Merv is now known as the city OF the
Sultan Sanjar; this is great Quadrangular
enclosure measuring about six hundred yards
on each side. and surrounded by well- pre-
served wall with numerous fanking towers
and lower exterior rampant. This town Is
said to have been destroyed by the son OF
Zenghis Khan about A. D. 1921. but 1t would
seem that the walls at least must have been re-
occupied at q later period. for in the fanking
towers at the corners and gates are artillery
embrasures. This city is provided with four
gates. each well defended by massive towers OF
baked brick. 4 material which also enters
largely into the structure OF the walls With the
which stands precisely In the centre. at the
point where two great causeways. rum
ming respectively from north to south
apd from east to west. cross each other.
there is not one brick remaining upon another
Of all the buildings that once stood within the
enclosure. The strangely complete destruc-
ton is due partly to the Oriental habit of dig
ging for treasure-Mr. ODonovan found the
whole surface OF the city dotted with pits-but
mainly to the habit OF transporting building
material from the site OF a former town to be
used in the construction Of a later city. There
is reason to believe. for instance. that the old
est city Of the Merv Oasis. Gaour Kala. fur
nished much OF the building material for the
city of the Sultan Sanjar which succeeded 1t.
while in like manner. when the last-named
town was destroyed the material was turned to
account in the creation OF the most modern
city. Bairam Ali.
Somewhat nearer to tho present limit Of cul-
tivated land. but still beyond the reach OF the
present irrigation system are the ruins OF
Bairam Ali the youngest of the three cities
which in turn have borne the name of Merry.