A Pretended Dervish in Turkestan, Parts I-III [pp. 198-215]

A Pretended Dervish in Turkestan.
olution. All was useless, and Vam- alarm; would not the sight of his feab6ry was doubting whether he should tures, a little too European, provoke
not be forced to retrace his steps, from the Russian agent an indiscreet
when his companions generously de- exclamation of surprise? and would
dclared that they would not proceed not his incognito be betrayed? Hapwithout him. pily, on the day of their arrival Easter
Toward evening, the dervishes was celebrated in the Greek Church,
learned that a Turcoman named Ya- and, on account of this solemnity, the
kaub proposed from a religious motive, examination was a mere formality.
and without desiring any recompense, The pilgrims continued their voyage,
to take them in his boat. The motive and landed the next day at Gomushof this unexpected kindness was very tbpe, a distance of only three leagues
soon discovered. Yakaub, having from Ashourada.
drawn Vambdry apart, confessed to
him in an embarrassed tone, which II.
contrasted singularly with his wild and
energetic physiognomy, that he nour- The hadjis were received by a
ished a profound and hopeless passion chief named Khandjan, to whom
for a young girl of his tribe; a Jew, a they had letters of recommendation.
renowned magician who resided at The noble Turkoman was a man of
Karatbpe, had promised to prepare an about forty years; his fine figure,
infallible talisman if the unhappy his dress of an austere simplicity, the
lover were able to procure for him long beard which fell upon his breast,
thirty drops of essence of rose direct gave him a dignified and imposing air.
from Mecca. "You hadjis," added He advanced toward his guests, emthe Tartar, casting downs his eyes, braced them several times, and led
"never quit the holy places without the way to his tent. The news of
bringing away some perfume; and as the arrival of dervishes had already
you are the youngest of the caravan, spread among the inhabitants; men,
I hope that you will comprehend my women, and children threw themselves
vexation better than the others, and before the pilgrims, disputing with
that you will help me." The compan- one another the honor of touching
ions of ~amb6ry had in fact several their garments, believing that they
bottles of the essence, of which they thus obtained a share in the merits of
gave a part to the Turkoman, and this these saintly personages. "These
precious gift threw the son of the des- first scenes of Asiatic life," says
ert into a genuine ecstasy. Vambdry, "astonished me so much
The voyag,ers passed two days on that I was constantly doubting wheth a haseboy, a boat provided with a mast er I should first examine the singular
and two unequal sails, which the Tar- construction of their tents of felt,
tars use for the transport of cargoes. or admire the beauty of the women.
It was almost night when Yakaub cast enveloped in their long silken tunics,
anchor before Ashourada, the most or yield to the desire manifested
southerly of the Russian possessions in by the arms and hands extended to Asia. The czar maintains constantly ward me. Strange spectacle! Young
on this coast steamers charged with and old, without distinction of sex or
repressing the depredations of the rank, pressed eagerly round these
Turkomen, which formerly inspired hadjis covered yet with the holy dust
terror throughout the province. All of Mecca. Fancy my amazement
natives before approaching the port of when I saw women of great beauty,
Ashourada must be provided with a and even young girls, rush through
regular passport, and must submit to the crowd to embrace me. These dem the inspection of the Russian functiona- onstrations of sympathy and respect,
ries. This visit caused Yambdry some however, became fatiguing when we
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