1841.] Manners and Habits of the Torkoman Tribes. 291 



manufacture their own tents, clothes, and horse furniture; tend large 

 flocks of cattle ; move from place to place ; cultivate small portions 

 of land ; eat horse and camel flesh ; and make distant excursions. 



They differ from the Arabs yet in several points ; they are more 

 wealthy ; they have less respect for their ancestors ; they have not 

 that romantic sort of love for the other sex ; they do not hold the 

 rights of hospitality to be so essentially incumbent upon them ; they 

 are not so strongly impressed with the obligation of the law of 

 lex talionis; they frequently stain their predatory attacks with mur- 

 der, which the Arabs always, if possible, avoid ; they are less subject 

 to the vicissitudes of season, as they live in a more temperate climate ; 

 they have a less defensible country, and have been frequently con- 

 quered ; they make captures for the purpose of selling them, and 

 this forms their chief article of commerce with Bokhara. In their 

 enterprizes they are bold, bloody, desperate, and cruel; from their 

 enemy they do not expect, and give no quarter, unless to make a slave 

 of their adversary, for the purpose of disposing of him at the best 

 market ; they murder the old men and women, and only take away 

 with them such as may bring a good price, and reimburse them for 

 their trouble; they are more sordid, less hospitable and generous, 

 and inferior in magnanimity to the Arab ; they have larger forms, 

 fuller faces, broader and more expansive foreheads, smaller eyes, and 

 are more ugly and cunning than the Arab; they shew a few hairs 

 where we expect to see beard ; large mouths, strong teeth, and moder- 

 ate sized lips. Their cap distinguishes them from the Persian ; from 

 bottom to top it is large and circular, of the same diameter, and not 

 conical as that of the Kassilbash cut ; it is placed on an enormous 

 head, seated on a short but thick neck, and this pillar is supported by 

 a pair of broad shoulders, which gives the outline of a large and ex- 

 panded body and a full chest. Their food consists of bread, soup, and 

 pillao, diversified with cheese, milk, and fruits. 



They generally eat twice a day ; their breakfast is light, composed 

 of bread with fruit or syrup. Their dinner is more substantial, 

 meat under some form always forming the chief portion of it. 



The Torkomans are divided into a great many tribes independent 

 of each other, who have their respective chiefs and white beards, 

 (svffed resh.J 



2 o 



