On the Yamud and Gokldn Tribes of Turkomania. 207 



is seldom a manly, open war ; it generally consists in sudden 

 unexpected incursions. The Turkomans approach the Per- 

 sian villages in stealth, in the dead of night, wait for the first 

 dawn of morning, then rush on the disarmed and drowsy po- 

 pulation, plunder what they can ; after which they retreat pre- 

 cipitately, carrying off into their deserts the captives who have 

 fallen into their hands. Their piratic exploits on the Caspian 

 are likewise directed against the poor villagers of Mazanderan, 

 who venture too near the beach, or fish in the sea. If the 

 Yam^d finds his enemy armed with a matchlock he seldom at- 

 tacks him, but speedily retreats, or hides himself in the thick 

 forest. The Turkoman seldom makes use of fire-arms, and 

 prefers the lance and the sabre. 



The ruling passion of the Turkoman is thirst for plunder — 

 nothing is reckoned sacred that stands in the way to the at- 

 tainment of the objects of his cupidity ; and when force can- 

 not be employed, he has recourse to cunning in order to be 

 possessed of the object he covets. 



The second passion which fills his breast is revenge : it is 

 subservient to the first, and proceeds generally from some sor- 

 did motive. The secret, and often the ostensible, cause of 

 their bloody feuds, is founded on the prospect of plunder. 



The reason why the Turkomans are more inhuman than 

 the other barbarous wandering tribes, cannot be attributed, I 

 believe, to any other cause, than that they are slave-dealers. 

 Their daring forays are usually undertaken with a view to 

 carry away captives, whom they retain in chains until re- 

 deemed by their relations, or sell them in the bazars of Khiva, 

 if the ransom money fails to arrive in time, or proves insuffi- 

 cient to satisfy their cupidity. The prisoners are sometimes 

 retained for their own use, and sent to tend their flocks in the 

 desert, or employed in field works. Thus they are the terror 

 of their neighbours — the Persians of Mazanderan, Asterabad, 

 and Khorassan, who are obliged to be always on their guard 

 against the sudden attacks of the Turkomans. 



As the Persians are of the Shia sect, and the Turkomans 

 of the Sunni, the latter justify themselves on the ground that 

 to seize on a Persian and sell him is lawful ; others, however, 

 are more sincere, and own that if the Persians, instead of 



