The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-20
AsKABAD AND THE TEKKES.
Habits and Customs of the Recently Con-
quered Subjects of the Russians.

26: Askabad, or Ashkabad, as it il
called by the Persians and Turcomans
when compared with other Villages
and halting- places in the Tekke terri
tory, deserves to a certain extent Its
poet1caI appellation, '.The Abode oi
Love" for such is the meaning of the
name. The place was formerly a mere
village situated in an extensive but
only half-cultivated valley lying be-
tween two ranges of hills, which sup
ply 1T with water. 1t was here that
the merchants from Persia, chiefly OF
Yomut and the Goklan Turcomans, met
the Tekkes for the purpose of barter
ing their goods. The Russians, after
the capture of Geok-Tepe, the Tekke
stronghold, which cost them SO much
blood, deeming the place unfit for the
new province, left there garrison of
fifteen hundred men, and took them
selves to Askabad, which they made
the chief town of their newly-acquired
territory. Here they began to build.
and have continued since to erect
commodation OF the administrative
body, the military, and other officials.
In addition they built church, a
small hotel, and two caravansarais.
They encouraged also people of every
country to come and settle in the new
town, Moreover, to make sure of
their conquest and to prevent future
rebellion or sedition, they tried and
partially succeeded in disarming the
Tekkes. They took the fleet aud
choice horses from the conquered peo-
pie, and compelled many of the chiefs,
notables. and heads of families to
have fixed dwellings, at Askabad, or at
other villages, and to engage in
agriculture.
Askabad has now besides the mill
7tary, numbering about 5000. popu.
,aation of more than 5000 inhabitants.
About 5000 are Persians and Persian
Turks, 2,400 are Turcomans, 500
Kurds, $50 Russians and 80 Armen-
aans. Under the Russian influence
and by the influx of foreign settlers,
chiefly from Persia and Caucasia, a
new mode of life was introduced in
the Tekke villages, and especially in
Askabad. The simple and patriarchal
Turcoman, who lived exclusively on
coarse bread and cameps milk, who
scarcely ever tasted flesh, and knew
no drink but water, has now been
brought by the new civilization to
have numerous wants and to feel the
loss of luxuries of which until lately
he had no idea. The town-dwell1ng
Turcoman now takes tea and 'syodka"
AS habitually as any Russian; but he
swallows them while cursing those
who introduce them into his country,
and by ascribing the cause of his trans
gression of the ancient laws and Gus
toms to the fate which allowed Tur-
comania to be conquered by foreigners.
This change of the popular habits, to-
gether with the construction of the |
railway, has added to the consolidation
of Russia's dominion in that country. |
Her hold is sure on those Turcomans |
who live in villages, have fixed dwell
lngs, or are dependent on her for their
substance But the Turcomans with
fixed residence form but small por-
ton of the inhabitants of the country.
The bulk of the Tekkes have stuck to
their old habits and customs. Child
rem of the desert, the desert belongs
20 them; there they lead semi-inde-
pendent life; there they are safe as
long as they have camels, on whose
backs they can travel and on whose
milk they can feed. The Russian
troops cannot without great efforts
and extensive and costly preparations
pursue on sandy desert almost de-
void of water refractory parties who,
aver On the move, leave behind them
neither possessions nor trail.
The only thing which might compel
.he wandering Tekkes to submit to
Russia is the fact that they have to
ouy once a year a supply of wheat for
heir own use. But as this supply is
obtained from Persia through the
fomut and Goklan Turcomars, CO.
and brother tribes. and on
/ frontier which is more than four
hundred versts in length, it will be
,asY to elude the preventive measures
which could be taken by the Russian
government, unless indeed the latter
lept strong detachments on the whole
ength of the frontier. The feelings
If the Tekkes toward their masters
ire not those of affection. The bazaar
gossip. as well as the evening gather !
ng talk among them, turns principally
IN the prospects of the war considered
,y them inevitable. The elders re-
present with some complacency to
heir younger listeners that some Co.,
100 Afghans are encamping outside
he walls of Herat, and more than
100000 English on the Indian fron1ier
waiting orders to march against the
russians! This exaggeration of the
oS .os-