204 On the Yamud and Gokldfi Tribes of Turkomania. 



by means of which the water was carried over the river, and 

 then ran along another channel, till the junction of the latter 

 with the Kizil-Alldti wall, which in those parts is cut across, 

 to allow the passage for the water. 



The tower called Gumbet-i-Kabus has been described by 

 other travellers ; it stands amid the ruins of the once popu- 

 lous town of Jurjan^ celebrated for its learned men, and ca- 

 pital of the whole province which bore its name, now covered 

 with high grass and reeds — a receptacle for leopards and 

 other beasts of prey. 



Of the town of Bibi- Shir van nothing more is seen beyond 

 a number of green mounds, although the Turkomans assured 

 me that some deep subterraneous passages have been dis- 

 covered there. 



Both Bibi- Shir van and Jurjan are said to have been de- 

 stroyed by an earthquake. I likewise learned, when it was 

 too late to retrace my steps, of the existence of a great reser- 

 voir of water, somewhat in the style of the Lake Mceris, in 

 Egypt. The natives call it Ystdkhl^ and say that it is about 

 7i English miles in length, and wide in proportion, and above 

 30 feet in depth. In spring, the water of the torrents, flow- 

 ing from the mountains, is accumulated in the lake, and is 

 used in summer for the irrigation of the rice plantations. 



Gatir-Kaleh, Perez, Shahrek, appear to have been towns or 

 fortified camps. Dashtalghe or Salocil represents, in all pro- 

 bability, the site of the palace and pleasure-gardens which 

 Amir-Timur had constructed for the ladies of his harem dur- 

 ing the winter he spent at Turjan, which is close by. 



The plains of Turkomania possess above 60 very consider- 

 able artificial mounds, such as are met in Khorassan ; they 

 certainly are of great antiquity, and may be referred to the 

 times of the Scythians or Parthians. In one of these mounds 

 some very curious articles, in gold, copper, and marble, have 

 been lately discovered. A detailed description of them has 

 been presented by me to the Society of Antiquaries. 



The ruins of Ak-Kaleh, a modern town, are situated between 

 the Kara-Su and Gurgan rivers. It was once the capital of 

 the Kajars. 



The Goklans ascribe their origin to two brothers, Du- 



