After a rest of two days in Sari we started for Karatepe. It was not until evening, after a laborious journey of nine hours, that we arrived. Here it is that the Turkomans first become objects of terror. Piratical hordes of them hide their vessels along the coast, whence extending their expeditions to a distance of a few leagues into the interior, they often return to the shore, dragging a Persian or so in bonds.
CHAPTER IV.
| KAEATEPE |
| AUTHOR ENTERTAINED BY AN AFGHAN, NUR-ULLAH |
| SUSPICIONS AS TO HIS DERVISH CHARACTER |
| HADJIS PROVISION THEMSELVES FOR JOURNEY THROUGH DESERT |
| AFGHAN COLONY |
| NADIR SHAH |
| FIRST VIEW OF THE CASPIAN |
| YACOUB THE TURKOMAN BOATMAN |
| LOVE TALISMAN |
| EMBARKATION FOR ASHODRADA |
| VOYAGE ON THE CASPIAN |
| RUSSIAN PART OF ASHOURADA |
| RUSSIAN WAR STEAMERS IN THE CASPIAN |
| TURKOMAN CHIEF, IN THE SERVICE OF RUSSIA |
| APPREHENSION OF DISCOVERY ON THE AUTHOR'S PART |
| ARRIVAL AT GÖMÜSHTEPE AND AT THE MOUTH OF THE GORGHEN. |
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Ultra Caspium sinum quidnam esset, ambiguum aliquamcliu fuit. --Pomponius Mela, De Situ Orbis.
[Karatepe; Author entertained by an Afghan, Nur-Ullah]
Nur-Ullah, an Afghan of distinction, whose acquaintance I had already formed at Sari, conducted me to his house on my arrival at Karatepe; and as I objected to be separated from all my friends, he included Hadji Bilal also in his invitation, and did not rest until I had accepted his hospitality. At first I could not divine the motive of his extraordinary kindness, but I observed a little later that he had heard of the footing upon which I stood at the Turkish Embassy in Teheran, and he wished me to repay his kindness by a letter of recommendation, which I promised, and very willingly gave him before we parted.
[Suspicions as to his Dervish Character]
I had hardly taken possession of my new abode when the room filled with visitors, who squatted down in a row all round against the walls, first staring at me with their eyes wide open, then communicating to each other the results of their observations, and then uttering aloud their judgment upon the object of my travelling. 'A Dervish,' said the majority, 'he is not, his appearance is anything but that of a Dervish; for the wretchedness of his dress contrasts too plainly with his features and his complexion. As the Hadjis told us, he must be a relative of the ambassador, who represents our Sultan at Teheran,' and here all stood up. 'Allah only knows what a man who issues from so high an origin has to do amongst the Turkomans in Khiva and Bokhara.'