. A visit to the Russians in central Asia. ing about. 66 A Visit to the Russians Writers differ curiously upon the subject ofthe personal courage of the Turkomans ; somemaintain that they never attack unless they arealmost sure of success. There is no doubtthat they fought splendidly when driven todefend themselves at Geok Tepe, and theyshowed also a degree of chivalrous feeling thatwas not to be expected from them. There appears to be no diversity of opinionas to the cowardice of the Persians, and sym-pathy with them is repelled when one readsof their horrid reprisals when they happenedto cap
. A visit to the Russians in central Asia. ing about. 66 A Visit to the Russians Writers differ curiously upon the subject ofthe personal courage of the Turkomans ; somemaintain that they never attack unless they arealmost sure of success. There is no doubtthat they fought splendidly when driven todefend themselves at Geok Tepe, and theyshowed also a degree of chivalrous feeling thatwas not to be expected from them. There appears to be no diversity of opinionas to the cowardice of the Persians, and sym-pathy with them is repelled when one readsof their horrid reprisals when they happenedto capture their enemies. It is said thatthey have been guilty of crucifying, impaling,and flaying them alive. Improvement inKhorasan is impossible, Colonel MGregordeclared, with the accursed Persian systemof mingled tyranny and imbecility. That the Turkomans are callous and cruelno one can deny; but neither Persians norRussians set them a good example. TheRussians have at least cleared the land fromslave markets, abolished torture and the most. in Central Asia 69 barbarous forms of capital ijunishment. It ismore agreeable to think of these things than torecall the terrible massacres under GeneralsLomakin and Kaufmann. Severity does notalways ensure submission in Oriental countries,even after long years of foreign rule. TheRussians have been unpleasantly remindedof this fact by the recent insurrection inFerghana, the spirit of discontent spreadingas far as Samarkand. It is curious that theformal proclamation of a religious war willalways rouse the Musulman tribes, howeverindifferent they may be to the outward obser-vance of their religion. The Turkoman women are not veiled. Theyare unprepossessing in appearance, and theirhard lives very soon rob them of their fresh-ness. They have the habit of standing at thedoor of their tents for purposes of conversation,and so as to be able to keep watch over theirchildren playing outside. Observing . thesethings one is forcibly reminded of the fa
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