Turkmens in Traveler's Records
August 27, 2017 | 15:32 |4100
Discovering a new land for himself, the traveler first of all gets to know the people living on it. Perhaps, this is the most interesting part of his research. Here is a series of observations made by Russian travelers in different years of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. "... The whole area from Kizil-Arvat to Gyaurs is Ashkabad district or Akhal-Teke oasis. The main population here is Turkmen - Teke. All of them are mostly tall, slender, with spirited features and upright carriage, and high sheepskin hats make their growth higher." "The Turkmens are of high moral character. They are very truthful, honest and chary on their reputation. All Turkmens in the region are the most peaceful villagers - farmers, cattle breeders, cotton growers, and they make an impression of a calm, full of strength, fresh, honest people, unspoiled by the Eastern flattery, and having a large share of self-esteem and nobility."Vladimir ZAREMBO
"The Turkmens who live in the Transcaspian region differ sharply from the inhabitants of other Turkestan regions. This is people with traditionally knightly code of honor concerning the life of themselves and their family. The offender of this honor is considered impossible to leave without punishment (in severe cases the point of honor is decided by blood revenge). ... However, bloodshed exists more theoretically. In actual fact, here, among the Turkmen, there is almost no bloodshed..."
"Turkmens consider hospitality their sacred duty; every guest can be sure of his life and property safety, if he is under the roof of the first Turkman-Teke he has met. If it had happened that the guest’s horse was stolen, although in principle it was impossible, the host gave his own for mount. In addition to hospitality, the Turkmen character is distinguished by truthfulness, honesty, respect for the elderly and obedience to traditions."
"The Turkmens costume consists of a white coarse or red silk shirt, and white or dark coarse trousers of incredible width, and one or two dressing gowns, put on one another depending on the time of the year.
These gowns do not spoil their figures; many of the Turkmen wear them with such dandiness that they do not feel any obstacles in their movements.
On their feet the Turkmen put on woolen socks and shoes without backdrops, and during riding they wear large yellow boots made of bold leather. In addition, all men dress in warm sheepskins in winter...
The Turkmen women clothes consist of a wide shirt, worn over wide trousers; the breastplate of the shirt is studded with small silver coins in several rows, and a high head bandage. Like men, all Turkmen women wear gowns. Married women sometimes tighten a waist with a scarf over their shirts. On the forehead they put on silver forehead, silver oval bracelets on their hands and a handbag over their shoulder, trimmed with silver, designed for prayers relieving the evil eye.
The conditions of the life of the Turkmen are still (for year 1900) preserved unchanged, and are purely patriarchal. At the heart of their social life is the tribal principle, which does not restrict the personal freedom. Turkmen-Teke never had power of foreigners over themselves and were proud of this... "Adat" - an ordinary law that determines personal and family relations is held in high estimation. The procedure for using water and irrigated land is strictly regulated, and there are special persons who are unswervingly observing the established rules".
This is only a one ounce of the documentary evidence of the identity of the Turkmen people, left by Russian travelers who studied the history of the region and stored in the funds of the Central State Archive of Turkmenistan.
Time passes, social relations, economic priorities change, but the character traits of people who live in this ancient country remain unchanged.
