"دليل بلاد فارس، الجزء III، وهو يتضمن محافظة فارس، لورستان، عربستان، خوزستان، يزد، كرمانشاه، أردلان، كردستان" [ظ‎‎٢‎٣‎٨] (٦٨٦/٤٨١)

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object of worship is their great saint Baba Buzurg ; but there are
also several holy men amongst them who are considered the living
representatives of the divine principle, and who are thus regarded by
their particular disciples with a reverence little short of adoration. Their
sacrifices and their mystical meetings form a subject of much interest;
for many of their observances are certainly to be traced to a source long
anterior to the institution of Muhammadanism. Macdonald Kinneir has
noticed the midnight orgies of the Charagh-Kushan. It is not prob
able that any such rites are observed at the present day, but meetings
of this nature were certainly held until within the last half century,
and there cannot be a doubt but that we may recognise in them a
relic of the worship of the principles of generation and fecundity,
which had descended through the orgies of Mithra and Anatis,
from the time when Sesostris erected the emblems of the sexual
organs as objects of adoration, and Semiramis, delivering herself to
indiscriminate pleasure, doubtless intended to fulfil a religious cere
mony.
The great branch of Plsh-Kuh is divided into four tribes, each
of which has numerous subdivisions; it is without a supreme chief,
having power over the whole body, but each tribe and almost each
subdivision has its own particular head or tushmal, who acknow
ledges no other authority than that of the Shah when he is able
to enforce it.
The system of government pursued in these tribes is the same
throughout the whole of the tribes in Persia. Each tribe has its
chief, who exercises an unlimited authority over its members.
The tushmals are merely chiefs of families or of subdivisions,
who are employed in collecting the tribute, and are considered re
sponsible to the chief for the good order and allegiance of those
placed under their care. They may resort to any means they think
proper in raising this tribute, and may imprison or even put to
death those who belong to the division over which they are placed;
but they are accountable to the great chief for that part of the
tribute apportioned to their division, and must follow him in his
wars when he needs their services. It is upon these conditions
that they hold their power as tushmals; and if these are neglected,
they may be immediately displaced. The constitution of these tribes
bears, in fact, a very strong resemblance to feudalism. The chief
himself accounts with the government, and is left to raise the tri
bute through his tushmals.
The four tribes of the Pish-Kuh are generally at war with each
other. They are notorious for their plundering propensities, par
ticularly the Dilfan and Silah-Silah.
The country they inhabit can seldom be traversed in safety either
by single travellers or caravans.
The tribe of Dilfan furnishes 800 men, who form the Luristan
regiment. Of this number 300 are raised from the subdivision
of & Yuvetiwand, 400 men from that of Mumiuawand, and 100
from that of Raisawaud.