'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎278] (319/714)

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PERSIA
to take photographs and paint a battle-scene for the Shah, was
seized and carried off, and not redeemed until he had been a
captive for fifteen months and a ransom of 11,000 toma7is (then
equivalent to 5,000/.) was paid by his royal patron. 1 He was
captured in the successful attack made by the Turkomans upon
the Persian column while at Merv, It was here, however, that
a Persian general in command of 6,000 men, halting behind his
column for two or three moments to take a final pull at his kalian,
was snatched up and swept away in full sight of his troops, and
within a few weeks time was sold for a few pounds in the bazaar
of Khiva.
Whatever may be said of the designs of Russia on this
province of Khorasan, not Persia only, but every traveller between
, Teheran and Meshed, owes her a lasting sense of oTatitude
bervice 0 * ^ . . . .
the for the service she has wrought in putting an end to this
IxUhSianR unmitigated curse. It was certainly not for unselfish
reasons, nor in the interests of Persia, still less out of pure
philanthropy, that Russia undertook her successful campaigns
against the Tekke Turkomans of Transcaspia. But here we may
afford to ignore motives, and may be content with congratulating
both ourselves and her upon the fact. Since the victorious campaign
of Skobeleff in 1881, and the subsequent annexation of Akhal
Tekke, the Meshed-Teheran road has been absolutely secure. No
guard is maintained or needed, the pilgrims have no special ground
of appeal to Allah, and the traveller is startled by nothing more
serious than the whirr of wings as a covey of red-legged partridges—
which abound in these mountains—rises almost from between his
horse's legs.
Leaving Mazinan, our road struck northwards towards the hills.
In the grey morning light I discerned a numerous herd of wild
Pui-i- deer, as large as red deer, at a distance of 300 yards
Abrishum f r om the track; but the bullets- of my revolver had no
other effect than to accelerate their disappearance. After fourteen
miles we came to the deserted caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and fort of Sadrabad.
' It was said that the Turkomans had at first priced the luckless photographer
at 3Z. IDs. But as soon as they found out that he was a European, and of some
value, their demands rose in a steady crescendo. Meanwhile the Khan of Khiva,
hearing that the captive had instruments, and thinking he must be a military
engineer, was very anxious to get hold of him to fortify his capital. Colonel Val.
Laker gratuitously doubles the ultimate ransom. M. de Blocqueville wrote the
history of his adventures in the Tour du Monde, April 1866.