In the commencement of his reign he was employed in putting down an insurrection under his brother Uttur Khan; but having settled the dissensions and civil discords in Sindh, he made an incursion upon Battle of Jharra. Cutch, rendered remarkable for the great battle of Jharra, which was fought with Rao Gore upon the occasion. He died after a rule of 17 years. His brother Uttur Khan seized the reins of government, but only retained them for a short time, and was succeeded by Surafraz Khan, son of Ghullam Shah. Surafraz Khan. Shortly after coming to power, he allowed his mind to be poisoned by one Rajah Leckie against a chief of distinction in his service, named Byram Khan Talpoor. Byram being informed of the threatened evil, took counsel with his sons Sobhdar and Bejur Murders Byram and his son Sobhdar. to avert it; but Surafraz put both Byram and his son Sobhdar to death; Bejur fled to Mecca. Futteh Ali Khan, the son of Sobhdar raised an insurrection to revenge his father's death, and Surafraz Khan fled Futteh Ali Khan drives out Surafraz. to the fort of Hyderabad, where he was imprisoned. His brother Mahomed Khan succeeded him for a short time; but was deposed by Ghullam Nubbee, brother of Ghullam Shah. Bejur Khan Talpoor, son of Byram, at this time arrived from Mecca at Neirunkote, and Ghullam Nubbee sought an opportunity to destroy Death of Gullam Nubee. Abdul Nubbee him. Bejur having collected followers an engagement ensued, in which Ghullam Nubbee was killed, and Bejur Khan became master of Sindh, putting Abdul placed in power. Nubbee, the brother of Ghullam Nubbee, in his brother's place, as governor of the country. Abdul Nubbee's first act was to destroy Surafraz Khan, Mahomed Khan, Uttur Khan, and Meer Mahomed, at Hyderabad, where they were imprisoned.* His next, to send Ijut Khan with a force to attack Bejur Khan; the former was defeated. Abdul Nubbee afterwards murdered drive out the family Bejur Khan, when the Talpoors drove out Abdul of the Kaloras, &c. Nubbee, putting the affairs of the country in the hands of Futteh Ali Khan Talpoor, son of Sobhdar and grandson of Byram, in which Timoor Shah confirmed him. He gave a share of his power Murders Bejur * This wholesale system of putting princes out of the world, is vouched for in the "Futteh Nameh." to each of his brothers, Ghullam Ali, Kurm Ali, and Murad Ali. Futteh Ali Khan and Ghullam died; the former in 1801 A. D. 1216 H., and the latter in 1811 A. d. 1226 h. Futteh Ali left a son, (Sobdhar,) and Ghullam also (Mahomed,) who with their uncles, Murad Ali and Kurum Ali, share the government of Sindh, with the title of Ameers. NOTE. It is impossible to add to the already very luminous and interesting history given by Dr. J. Burnes in his visit to the Court of Sindh, of the rulers of the families of the Kaloras and Talpuras; as my paper would not however have been complete without some notice of their dynasties; I have compressed them into a close and small space, leaving out most of those incidents which have been so graphically described by Dr. Burnes. T. P. Notes on the Manners and Habits of the Torkoman Tribes, with some Geographical Notices of the Country they occupy.-By EDWARD STIRLING, ESQ. B. C. S. The khonat of Khiva has been described by Mr. M. Mouraviev, who was sent by Russia as an envoy to the Khan, at great length, and he has given considerable interest in the deplorable tale of his sufferings. A barbarous nation, in the lowest state of civilization, can have very few objects to engage much attention; and if we except their peculiar manners and customs, and mode of warfare, they are entirely destitute of attractions to the inhabitant of a more refined atmosphere. Without antiquities, edifices, laws, learning, science, arts, and commerce, they have little to satisfy or create curiosity. The Torkomans bear the greatest resemblance of all other nations to the Arabians; but they are not decorated with their antiquity of origin; their celebrity, as conquerors, as legislators, and as fanatics; their learning, and their reputed science. While the Arabian Khaliffs ruled as the vicegerents of Mahomed, the Torkomans were reckoned among the number of their slaves. Their manners are similar; they are equally the children of the Desert, inured to fatigue; pride themselves on their horses and mares; infest the high roads for the purpose of plunder, and enslaving their victims; war among themselves; manufacture their own tents, clothes, and horse furniture; tend large flocks of cattle; move from place to place; cultivate small portions of land; eat horse and camel flesh; and make distant excursions. They differ from the Arabs yet in several points; they are more wealthy; they have less respect for their ancestors; they have not that romantic sort of love for the other sex; they do not hold the rights of hospitality to be so essentially incumbent upon them; they are not so strongly impressed with the obligation of the law of lex talionis; they frequently stain their predatory attacks with murder, which the Arabs always, if possible, avoid; they are less subject to the vicissitudes of season, as they live in a more temperate climate; they have a less defensible country, and have been frequently conquered; they make captures for the purpose of selling them, and this forms their chief article of commerce with Bokhara. In their enterprizes they are bold, bloody, desperate, and cruel; from their enemy they do not expect, and give no quarter, unless to make a slave of their adversary, for the purpose of disposing of him at the best market; they murder the old men and women, and only take away with them such as may bring a good price, and reimburse them for their trouble; they are more sordid, less hospitable and generous, and inferior in magnanimity to the Arab; they have larger forms, fuller faces, broader and more expansive foreheads, smaller eyes, and are more ugly and cunning than the Arab; they shew a few hairs where we expect to see beard; large mouths, strong teeth, and moderate sized lips. Their cap distinguishes them from the Persian; from bottom to top it is large and circular, of the same diameter, and not conical as that of the Kassilbash cut; it is placed on an enormous head, seated on a short but thick neck, and this pillar is supported by a pair of broad shoulders, which gives the outline of a large and expanded body and a full chest. Their food consists of bread, soup, and pillao, diversified with cheese, milk, and fruits. They generally eat twice a day; their breakfast is light, composed of bread with fruit or syrup. Their dinner is more substantial, meat under some form always forming the chief portion of it. The Torkomans are divided into a great many tribes independent of each other, who have their respective chiefs and white beards, (suffed resh.) The country of the Torkomans may be considered, generally speaking, bounded on the north by the river Ammoo, and on the south by the river Tedjen; but these rivers wind very much, and perhaps it may be better to state the southern boundary of the country to be the Parapamisan range, and from thence north it extends as far as the Ammoo river. On the east, it approaches the confines of Balk and the towns of Aukooree, Seripool, Shiberghan, on the borders of the Desert. On the west the limit is distinct, it is the Caspian sea. Khiva is the capital of a portion of this extensive country; but the more distant Torkoman tribes hold themselves, generally speaking, separate and independent of its rulers. Orgunge is the general appellation of this state on the north of Khorassan, and among the Torkomans of Shurraks. In ancient times this wild, desert, and inhospitable country would appear to have been inhabited by the tribes or races denominated the Daha, the Getes, and Massagetes, and the Mimunceni. They have always been noted for their turbulent character and predatory habits, and for rearing that superb horse, which enables them to perform the most extraordinary journeys. The Sultans of Kharizm are famous in history. Malek Shah is represented as a noble, high-minded, and liberal sovereign; and the bearing and courage of Jillaladeen, the last sovereign of the Seljukan race, excited the enthusiastic praises even of Genjhis Khan, while he viewed him swimming his horse across the rapid current of the Indus, still continuing to let fly his arrows at him whilst landing on the bank of the stream, admiring his intrepidity. A king of Kharizm is mentioned by the historian Arrian, but he makes his residence west of the Caspian, next the country of the Amazons: this locality seems in my opinion evidently a mistake of the copyist. The brave resistance and the frequent revolts of this people are mentioned by Arrian and Quintus Curtius. The people of these countries, together with the Sogdians and Scythians, appear to have been the first who checked Alexander's career. The above-quoted historians allow that his detachments were often surprised and defeated; his campaign in this country would seem to have been very harassing, the labour and sufferings of his soldiers very great. It is scarcely to be expected from posthumous historians that in relating the transactions which occurred in a distant and nearly unknown country, where a different language prevailed, that the correctness of their geographical information should be such as to enable us to trace with minuteness the various cities and petty kingdoms which they have occasion to mention at the distance of two thousand years.* It is with difficulty we can even guess at the principal places reported by these historians of Alexander the Great to have been subdued by him. One of the most interesting places to inquire the situation of, it appears to me to be the hill fort, which seems to have been occupied by the Sogdians. This I imagine is no other than the Killat Nadir,† which very accurately corresponds with the description given of it by Arrian and Quintus Curtius. The names of nations and cities are very much confounded together, and this would appear to be the case with the Sogdians, Scythians, and Bactrians. This rock may perhaps be thought likewise to answer to that of Aornas, since travellers have in vain inquired for it on the banks of the Indus; for Arrian says, that Alexander leaving Herat (Aria) went to the cities of Aornas and Bactria. Killat Nadir is situated on the borders of the Desert, * With reference to the above, the following are submitted; some of them I have endeavoured to settle: Drapsaca? Budukshan. Margiana. Marghina, the valley of the Moorgab river and the territory adjoining. Nantaca? Sogdiana. Drango? People inhabiting one of the mountain ranges of the Parapamisan spine. They are characterized by Quintus Curtius as "Bellecosa Natione." Dai. The Cashgar people inhabiting the Western hills as far as Darwas. These hills are called the "Beeloor Tay" I believe. Mæotis. The lake Aral. Paratucas? Choriensis Petra ? This is perhaps the present Kellati Nadir in Khorassan. Thyrceas ? Ara Sacos? This may be conceived a place of worship of the Saca, who were a tribe of Scythians. Jenippa? Is represented a vastly rich and populous country, which attracted, by its fruitfulness, settlers from all parts. This territory was situated on the borders of Scythia and would correspond to the present Fergana. + Vide B. Frazer. It is situated north of Meshid, on the borders of the Desert. These are described as all horsemen who exercise the profession of plunderers even in the time of peace. The Torkomans of the present day are now more barbarous in their cruelties, if possible, in quiet times, than during war. |