224 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



some troopers coming towards us, a complacent smile 

 crossed his coarse features, and stroking his beard, 

 he muttered, "After all, they are Mussulmen;" but 

 Daood soon dispelled the charming illusion, saying, 

 " Oh, father ! these are dogs and sons of dogs, and 

 have sent servants to meet us." Great was the old 

 man's ire, and deeply he vowed not to enter their 

 tents ; but seeing several people collected a little 

 distance off, I made up to them, and, on dismount- 

 ing, found they were the authorities of Yellatoon. 

 They gave me a hearty though rough welcome, and 

 led me to a tent Avhich had been pitched for the 

 occasion. One or two words of prayer, and a stroke 

 of the beard, took place immediately we were seated, 

 and raisins and bread were brought in and devoured. 

 The Turkomans have not the slightest pretensions to 

 politeness ; they do exactly whatever suits their fancy, 

 and expect their guest to please himself in every way. 

 They have one custom which I found sufficiently 

 troublesome : they consider it impolite to leave their 

 guest alone ; and unless you keep the door shut, 

 you have a constant flood of visitors, who enter, 

 sit down, stroke their beards, and exit. Last year 

 the governor of Yellatoon stole Mahomed Daood's 

 cloak, at least so saith Brutus. This governor is 

 of the same tribe as the Khan Huzarut, upon whom 

 he is entirely dependent. He is much interested in 

 making it believed that the Russians have retreated, 

 and seems much vexed if any one doubts this cir- 



