1836.] 



Tartar y and Afghanistan, 



great security among themselves, and being seldom visited by travel* 

 lers, are not obliged to assemble in large villages, but are dispersed in 

 houses, three or four together, over the country, always at some dis- 

 tance from the roads, or, rather, difficult paths, which traverse the rice 

 fields and swamps. These are purposely kept in a difficult state, as 

 well for protection, as to secure the monopoly of the carriage, no 

 cattle being able to convey loads but those of the country. If a 

 stranger, however, has a quarrel with any of the inhabitants, or attempts 

 to press a guide, he will be soon convinced, by the assembly of a crowd 

 about him, how great the number of people really is. 



On the death of the King, or in case of foreign invasion, a few 

 guards in the passes secure these provinces from the miseries to which 

 the rest of the country is exposed, and the news brought by fugitives is 

 all they know of passing events ; without they send forces to the aid 

 of the contending parties. The Kadgars owe their reign in P ersia to 

 the troops of Mozanderan and Astrabad. In the latter district the 

 chief part of their tribe (Kadgars) has long been fixed, and forms its 

 guard against the Turkoman Tartars. They formerly were established 

 on the Goorgan river, but have been gradually dispossessed of the 

 lands on its banks, and forced to retire near the forest districts, where 

 the Tartars seldom venture in force. 



Russia gained possession of all the Persian provinces on the Caspian 

 by treaty with Shah Sultan Hussain, in the time of Peter the Great, on 

 condition of assisting that Prince against the Afghans and Turks. She 

 never fulfilled her part of the engagement, and these districts were 

 restored to Nadir Shah on his return from India. During this partial 

 occupation a great number of men died from fevers, and Russia found 

 none of the advantages she expected, either from the silk of Gilan, or 

 sugar of Mozanderan. Their possession is still a favourite object with 

 her, under the idea that they will render her independent of other 

 countries for those valuable products, but in this I think she would be 

 much disappointed. 



The three Tartar tribes of Gouklan, Yamout and Tekie, are decidedly 

 Persian subjects; like all frontier tribes they pay less respect to the 

 orders of Government than those settled in the interior of the countiy, 

 and, for some time, but little of any kind, owing to the weak and pacific 

 character of the late king. I have, however, seen about 3,000 of their 

 best horse, serving with the Persian army, of whom 1,000 were Tekies, 

 and attached to the Erivan force, where I commanded the Artillery. 

 During the winter the greater part of these tribes are encamped in the 

 Persian territory, and on the Ottrak and Goorgan, the Persians can 

 then do what they please, and they seldom venture to disobey orders, as 

 they could not fly into the desert without abandoning their families, 

 winter provision, cattle and property; and what they did carry off 



