MONTEITH’S ACCOUNT OF THE TARTAR TRIBES. 
309 
The mountains which divide them partake 
of this difference. The sides looking towards 
the Caspian are wooded nearly to the sum- 
mit, and the others are bare, rugged, and 
parched, the leading features of Persian 
scenery. The elevation of the range being 
about 7,000 feet, every degree of temperature 
is experienced. The low country near the 
Caspian bears, as is before mentioned, a 
strong resemblance to India ; the charge of 
unhealthiness only applies to the swamps in 
the vicinity of the sea. After a slight ascent 
the climate is particularly fine, and from its 
dampness much resembles England, produc- 
ing perpetual verdure. The strength of the 
country, through which a stranger cannot 
find his way, has generally saved it from 
foreign invasion. Its inhabitants felt few ■ of 
the calamities which afflicted Persia, from 
the Afghan invasion to the establishment of 
the Kadgar dynasty, by whom Mozanderan 
and Astrabad have been particularly favour- 
ed, being considered their immediate patri- 
mony, and the cradle of the Shea sect. 
The people, in consequence, are generally 
richer and better lodged. A traveller passing 
through the country, would form a very false 
idea of the population and real extent of 
cultivation ; the people, enjoying great se- 
curity among themselves, and being seldom 
visited by travellers, are not obliged to as- 
semble in large villages, but are dispersed in 
houses, three or four together, over the 
country, always at some distance 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 in- 
habitants, 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 Persia 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 possessionof 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 foregoing exhibits our author’s style. 
There is a want of arrangement which critics 
have to complain of even in our best 
writers; and as Colonel Monteith’s narrative 
is intended more fora fire-side account of all 
he witnessed and felt than for a well digested 
treatise, allowances should be made ; but 
we hasten to introduce the reader to his 
account of the Tartar tribes. 
“ The three Tartar tribes of Goulkan, 
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 country, 
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 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 
w'hat they did carry off would be plundered 
by the other Tartars, whether of Khiva or 
Bokhara, if they had not previously entered 
into engagements with them. The sub- 
joined list gives the names of the different 
tribes, who form the principal and most 
formidable part of the Persian Cavalry, 
their principal force. The Infantry are either 
from the fixed villages or the great tribes 
of Lack, Loor, and Boktearee (supposed to 
be the remains of the ancient Persians). 
This system renders the assembly of an army 
a matter of no difficulty, but keeping such a 
force in order, or even together for any length 
of time, requires a Prince of great firm- 
ness and talent, as in times of confusion the 
influence of these tribes is greatest, and a 
civil war is easily brought on and difficult 
to be subdued. Persia has always been a 
country not difficult to conquer in times of 
civil dissension, but, from the same cause, 
impracticable to retain. When the country 
is well roused, no army can long resist the 
incessant attacks of a force, always pre- 
sent, and never to be encountered. The 
nature of the country singularly favours this 
system of war ; half of it is only fit for the 
abode of pastoral tiibes, who care little for 
a change of residence, if it does not take 
place in winter, or at the time their flocks 
