Some families of
consequence carry with them a Faqui or travelling Imam, to teach their
children to read and to pray, and who in case of need performs likewise
the duties of a menial servant, much like the young German baron’s
governor. These Faqui are for the greater part natives of Albostan,
educated there in mosques: they follow the Turkmans to participate in
the pious alms which the Koran prescribes. They are generally ignorant,
even of the Turkish law: they are often consulted however by the chiefs,
and their sentence is generally confirmed by the chief whenever there is
no precedent or customary law in point to the contrary.
I did not see any books amongst the Turkmans, and I am certain that out
of fifty hardly one knows how to read or write. Even few of them know
the text of their prayers (which are throughout the Mohammedan countries
in the sacred language, the Arabic), and therefore perform the
prescribed prostrations silently and without the usual ejaculations. The
married people, men as well as women, are tolerably exact in the
performance of their devotions, but the young men never trouble
themselves about them.
I did not stay long enough among the Turkmans to be able to judge
correctly of their character, especially as I was ignorant of their
language.
