TURCOMANS. 
377 
a stringed instrument, and over them are suites of upper apartments, 
from the windows of which a great tract of the country surrounding 
the town is to be seen. Behind the Dewan Khaneh is a large ande- 
roon, or the women’s apartment, strongly secured by very massive 
doors. 
At Asterabad much is heard of the Turcomans. Their principal 
tribes on the frontier of Persia, are the Yemout and the Guklan j 
these united, about 8 or 10,000 families in number, are nominally 
subject to Persia, but their subjection amounts to little else than a 
present of a few horses annually to the King, who is so careful not to 
give them cause of disgust, that he generally returns them more than 
he receives. Their frontier is about eight fursungs from Asterabad, 
and they constantly communicate with Persia. The only agreement 
that seems to exist between the parties, is a tacit sort of conven¬ 
tion, that they shall not chappow (as it is termed), that is, plunder each 
other. These tribes occupy the first part of the Dasht or plains, as 
far as the Gurgan river, inhabiting tents of about twenty or thirty in 
3 c 
