Merv, the Queen of the
World;
and the Scourge of the Man-stealing Turcomans. With an
Exposition of the Khorassan Question:
By Charles Thomas Marvin, Published by W.H. Allen, 1881
CHAPTER 5. CAMP LIFE IN THE DESERT.
Page 92
What the Turkmen
tents are like. — Fraser's description of the Turkmen's
portable house. — A tent warmer than the boat built
house. — Winter in the desert. — One advantage
of living in a kibitka. — A "wrinkle" for
the military authorities in India. — Russian troops
housed in tents. — An aoul. — Description of an
encampment. — Conolly's account of a Turkmen
camp in the desert. — Fraser's
picture of a Goklan encampment. — A night- halt
among the Goklan. — A camp at dawn. — Break
up of the camp. — Turkmen
on the march. — Arrival at a halting-place. —
Picturesque scenes. — Patriotic spirit of the Turkmen.
— “Home, sweet home." "
The Central Asian tent or snail
shell of the nomad has left upon my mind a very pleasing
impression. Cool in summer, and genially warm in winter,
what a blessing is its shelter when the wild hurricane
rages in all directions around the almost boundless
steppes! A stranger is often fearful lest the dread
elements should rend into a thousand pieces so frail
an abode, but the Turkmen
has no such apprehension; he attaches the cords fast and
sleeps sweetly, for the howling of the storm sounds in
his ear like the song that lulls the infant in its
cradle." — VAMDIVKY.
CONOLLY found the Turkmen
tents "for neatness and comfort to surpass all
others. Four pieces of frame-work (made of light sticks
loosely pivoted on each other, so that they may be drawn
out or
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