THE SUBMISSION OF MERV.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1160, 23 May 1884, Page 4

THE SUBMISSION OF MERV.

The Vienna correspondent of the '* Telegraph ’ gives the following Buasian version of the circumstances ■connected with the alleged voluntary submission of JVlerv:—“The staff officer, Captain A lichanow, arrived at dVlerv with a letter from the commander of the Trans Caspian territory, and took up his quarters with Mahmoud Khul Khan, who led the Akhal-Tekkes Against Skobeleff, and who last spring attended the coronation festivities at Moscow, on which occasion the Czar invested him with ihe r'iik of major. The popular assembly that decided to the Czar to annex Merv was held at the house of the mother of Jnssuf ■Khan, The inhabitants of the oasis of Merv belong to two tribes, the Otamyschi and Tochtanu schi. These are divided into four branches—the Wedilli, the Baschchi, Sitschraasy, and the Hcki. All four are represented ly khans in the deputation. Their delegates were Jussuf Kean, Mail!

Khan, Sary Khan, and Mon ml Khan, ■ Administratively Mo; v in Oivirlud into twenty-four oanala, an ti'Miudanoi’ of being the source of its prosiierity. Each canal comprises 2,000 dwellings. The canals 'were represented in the deputation by twenty four oldens, who, togeiher with the tour khans really represented the entire population of Mcrv. They accompanied Captain Alichanow to Kolibont, on the River Tedschen, where Colonel Mnratow, with a detachment of Russian troops awaited them. There they handed to the Russians their petition of annex ation, which was written in the Tartar language ou a large sheet of parchment, and signed by all the delegates. The deputation then proceeded with Colonel Muratow to Askabad, where they arrived on the afternoon of January 25, in brocaded garments. They took the o ith of allegiance on the 31st. The chiefs and leading officials assembled in ; ala uniform at the ’ residence of the commander of the trans-Caspian territory. There wore in all twentyfour. Then arrived amnliak with the Koran, at’ei which the four khans and the twenty-four elders were solemnly introduced. They were received oy Geueaal Komoroff, who welcomed them in cordial term The oath of allegiance was then administered, a protocol drawn up, and signed by all piesent. This brought the ceremony to an end.”