19th Century Turkmen

[foxfinial]

I've been researching 19th Century Turkmen people for a short story I'm currently working on, and while plenty of my research has proved really useful for the story, there're some awesome tidbits that I have no way of working in. And so, I bring them to you!

• Pre-Islamic beliefs apparently linger among the Turkmen, such that "Even today, in some extremely remote areas, one can occasionally see the skull and skin of a sacrificed horse hanging on a tree or shrub." These sacrifices are to Tengri, currying favours.
• Zengibaba is the saint-protector of cattle.
Source: Rafis Abazon, Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics, Greenwood Press: 2007.

• "Remnants of totemism cited by Rashid al-Din indicated that each tribe revered a bird that was not touched or eaten." (But it was unclear whether this referred to Turkmen or other Turkic peoples.)
• For the bridal wedding procession, where the bride goes to her husband's yurt, there are small carpet-covers for the camel's knees, "in deference to the camels' well-known sense of modesty."
Source: Louise W Mackie & Jon Thompson, eds. Turkmen: Tribal Carpets and Traditions, The Textile Museum, Washington DC: 1980.

• [a certain river] "is fabulously rich in fish at about four or five geographical miles from its mouth, so that its waters appeared almost coloured by them, and are in summer hardly drinkable. After I had only twice used it for washing, my hands and face acquired a strong fishy smell."
Source: Arminius Vambéry, Travels in Central Asia, John Murray: 1864.

Comments

[finch]

I just wanted you to know that I read that as "19th Century Turducken"

Thank you for sharing, tho!

[foxfinial]

*laughs*

You're welcome! =D

[lizvogel]

Ooh, Rafis Abazon! His Historical Dictionary of Turkmenistan is an absolute gold-mine.

[foxfinial]

!! I hadn't come across that one! I'll have to check it out if I have another research day at the British Library. Thank you!

[flarenut]

Is there anywhere that pre-current-religion customs don't linger at least in some form? Christmas trees, maypoles, ghosts and goblins....

[foxfinial]

I doubt it! These things are pervasive; they seem to become some kind of cultural habit. I find it all really interesting.

[brownbetty]

I'm trying to imagine these camel-knee-coverings. Do you suppose they are like knee-pads, or do they get inserted under the camels knees when he kneels, or what?