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

canals TO be thrown of. 80 as to water the high
lands above the level Of the main stream north
ward OF Benti It il one OF the chief duties
OF the Ichthyar Khan to SEQ that the works at
this point are kent In order for on them depends
the sustonance OF the entire Merv community.
One hundred men are necessarily employed In
the care OF the dam and Its sfuice. and their
best energies arc continually exerted in replac-
ing the fascnes washed away by the heavy
rush OF the impnging torrent Only BY inces-
SAINT vigilance can tho suice be prevented from
becoming unduly widened. and night and day
relays OF watchers are at their posts. A hun
dred yards above the great dam branch of two
canals-the Novur and the Alasha-which re-
spectively irrigate tho territories Of the Takta-
mish and Otamsh. as the two Tekke tribes in
habiting the oasis are called. At the point Of
biiurcation tho ALASKA canal flows due west
ward and the Novur due north. The breadth
OF each canal was here about fifteen
feet the depth OF the water eight feet. and tho
rate OF the current between three and four miles
an hour. Tho ALASKA canal. II seems. is OF
great antiquity. having existed at the time OF
the arrival Of the Turcomans at Merv in the
beginning OF the thirteenth century. The
Novur and ALASKA canals form as nearly as pos
sible q right angle. which IL bisected by the
main stream OF the Murgab after it's escape
OF the fortress Of Kouchid Khan Kala there 10
another dam at o point called Egri Gezer;
here two other canals branch OF. the Malyab
TO the west and the Karyab to the east.
North OF this dam. owing to the exhaustion OF
Its waters for irrigating purposes. the Murgab
| shrinks to thread. and. after struggling on
four or Eve miles further northward totally dis
appears in the red sand Of the desert.
The area Of the cultivated district varies con-
| siderably. according to the quantity OF water
procurable from the Murgab. which. in turn.
| depends upon the dryness OF the year. The
greatest length Of irrigated territory is from
fifty to hfty-fve miles, measuring from south
| ward Of the Benti dam In q northwesterly direc-
| ton; its greatest breadth from east to west IL
from thirty five to forty miles. Formerly the cub
tivated district was much larger for the ancient
| Inhabitants Of Merv constructed q dam at
| point twenty miles further up the river. from
| which point canals could irriRate the higher
! portion OF the plain on which the three old
| cities OF Merv were situated. A canal opened
at this point would again restore to fertility q
| large section OF the desert.
The Tekke Turcomans who now hold the
| ossis have apparently made q great mistake
| in not fortifying the Benti DAM which IL the
most vital and vulnerable portion Of their ter
ritory. Their great defensive work. Kouchid
|
and it would be useless for the Tekkes to try
to maintain themselves at this point II an
enemy were In possession OF the Murgab dam.
| The Saruk Turcomans. who. as we have said.
| were driven out by the Tekkes. placed their
| military and political capital-Porsa Kala-close
10 the Benti dam. and In doing this unques-
tionably displayed a better eye for strategy
than is exhibited By the present inhabitants Of
Merv. The Saruks. indeed. were In many re-
spects moro civilized than the Tekkes. and
their city. though now deserted. offers. with its
tall walls and thanking towers. a close resem-
blance to q medieval European town. 1t is
this Porsa Kala. the Saruk capital of the Mcrv
district up to thirty years ago. which figures a.
"Merv" in the maps OF the present century
| The present Tekkes have never inhabited the
place. and pride themselves indeed. upon not
dwelling behind wallis.
| The political and social constitution Of the
| Tskke tribes now inhabiting Merv is essentially
the clan system. There are two tribes in tho
nation-the Taktamish. reading on the east
ern bank Of the Murgab river. and depending
for irrigation ON the Novur canal. and the
Otamish. dwelling on the western bank Of the
Murgab. and looking TO the ALASKA canal for
| irrigation. The Taktamish Is the more numer-
Gus and also the senior tribe. but its prece-
dence over the western division Is purely hon
orary. Kouchfd Khan who commanded the
| whole nation during its migration to Merv.
and In tho subsequent war with Persia was
hereditary chief OF the Taktamish. Kouchid
Khans name II still potent ameng the
| people. and the now fortress bears his
name. but his son did not inherit
the fathers qualities. and the Otamish
Khan successfully asserted his claim
to equality in the government. The Takta-
msh and Otamish tribes are subdivided into
four sections, and still further into twenty four
| Yaps. or clans. It appears that in MeTv the
distinctions between these clans are carefully
kept up. Mr.. ODonovan tells US that he could
never discover the difference between them.
| but the Turcomans had no difficulty in deter
| mining ut a glance to what clan man be-
| loneed. Some trifing popularity OF dress or
| accoutrements served to mark the distinction.
Each Of the twenty-four clans ia presided over
by hereditary chief. or Kethkoda who claims
q distant relationship with the Khan OF tho
tribe. There are also four Kethkodas Of high
| or rank. corresponding to the four sections
into which the tribes are divided. The Keith
kodas administer the government Of their
clans. such as it is. and occasionally act as
Judges. though judicial functions more prop
erly belong to. the Cadis or Judges learned
in the law. Tho Cadis are simply men
who have studied the Koran. and arc
familiar with it's legal precepts. They
are appointed Judges by the Khans or Keith
kodas. and they have cognizancc OF the more
intricate questions. especially those relating to
caravans and trade. while the chiefs themselves
try such cases as can be decided without any
profound legal knowledge. On bazaar days tho
Khan in person usually administers justice in
| public and often inflictS summary punishment
with his stick. For neglect Of public duties
such as failure to work due time on the fortifl-
cations. fines are imposed and II the offender
cannot pay his hat is taken of. his hands bound
to his sides and he is exposed in this condition
to the sun for an hour or two. Thieves are tied
to q stake and their heads similarly exposed.
The penalty Of the bastinado. so common in
Persia. is unknown in Merv. Quarrels between
individuals are rare. and are seldom brought be-
fore either Khan or Cad being settled by blow
or stab on the spot. Even in cases OF murder
no stops are taken to punish the assassin ex-
cept on demand OF the wife or nearest male rel
alive Of the murdered man.
| The KpthkOdaS 0ro usunlly rich in Nocks