Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-21

nations whose sovereigns possessed au-
thority over Mery and owed allegiance
to Iranian or Turanian with complete
Indifference so long as border warfare
afforded the opportunity of indulglng
their predatory instincts. As might
be expected, their tenure of the oasis
was not uninterrupted, but they seem
to have enjoyed undisputed owner
ship from 1870 until 1915, when
the struggle with the Tekkes COM
menced. The latter, driven from
OIaz-Kala, on the river Tejend, by the
Persians, advanced northward, and af-
ter ten years constant warfare, made
themselves masters Of Mery, where they
have since remained. For assisting
Sultan Murad Mira, Governor of kho-
rassan. in an expedition undertaken on
their behalf against Merv, the SarikS
were set upon by the Tekkes and de-
cimated. They thereupon withdrew to
their present positions at Yulutan, some
forty miles from Mcrv and Penjdeh,
the scene Of General KomarOn' trcach-
erous massacre Of the AfghanS.
Change of dOmicle and loss OF power
were unaccompanied by any attempt at
emcndation of their evil ways on the
part of the Sariks. Their first acts were
the expulsion Of the Sailors from Yulu-
tan, and Of the Jemshidis and Teimuris
from Pepjdeh. Since 1857 they have
lived in open enmity with the Te&kes,
plundering small bands when opportu-
nifty offered. and making organized raids
on Northwest Afghanistan and the de-
fenceleSs Province of KhoraSsan. Their
last grand didmdH raid can be recorded
with grim satisfaction, as it resulted in
a complete fiaSco. In 1877 the SarikS
swooped down upon the Persian town
Observation-Disclosures, and carried off
10000 sheep and many prisoners. The
Shah at once telegraphed orders for the
collection of a force of two regiments
of infantry and 1000 cavalry, and. to
insure secrecy. quietly told she officer
in command that he would lose his head
if the order became known. In due
time the force set out on its march,
crossed the lleri-rud, and in two days
reached the Sarik camping-grounds on
the slopes of the Paropamisus, near
Gulran. SO sudden and unexpected
was the Persian attack that almost
without firing a shot 100 shepherds and
100000 sheep were captured and driven
back to Persia.
The Sariks are divided into five prin-
cipal clans, which are further sub
divided into sixteen families or branches.
At Yulutan and Penjdeh these families
are unfortunately mixed, and the
total population is about sixty thousand.
The method of computation followed is
always based upon the number of canals.
The whole community being dependent
on the water-supply for existence. the
administrative system of all Turcomau
tribes is limited to enforcing the regu-
lar distribution of water, and compul-
sorry labor in connection with the repair
and cleansing of the canals. In each
Of the two Sarik GASES there are
lSlarge, about 500 secondary, and 5000
small canals. AS it is very rarely that
more than one family makes use Of a
small canal, it is reckoned that there
are from 100000 $4,000 tents in both
GASES. If, as is presumed, the admin
istrstion established by General Roma
rolf at Penjdeh be conducted on native
principles, the applause with which
Russian papers herald its Inauguration
is rather out Of place. There has been
no such thing as native administration
known to either the Merv Tex
kes or Sarik Turcomsns. True,
each branch appoints ketkhOdd, OF
elder, but his power is exceedingly
limited, and, except in rare cases Of ab.
normal personal influence, is restricted
to the regulation Of the water-supply.
In discussing atamanS, or any other
affairs affecting the community, every
one has q voice in the matter, and joins
with the rest or holds aloof as he thinks
fit. Native administration as guaran'