"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٦] (٧٢٢/٢٩٧)

246
different governors general of his time, and corresponded directly with the
Shah and his ministers; while the present incumbent has been unable to hold
his own, in spite of strenuous efforts. Of the central government, the ilkhani
is now perforce an obedient and submissive subject. The assumption of
independence of his ancestors, which had always some reference to the state
of affairs in the kingdom in general, was often justified by their position..
With a weak government in the province, unsupported by the Shah's
ministers, a fair chance of aid from the Zafaranlus and from the Turko
mans, and a certainty of the devoted support of their own people, they
could afford to assume a high tone; but times have now changed. Com
munication with the capital is more frequent, and the people have learnt to
address complaints against their chief, in a manner before unknown, to the
minister there.
Tim general tendency of progress in the kingdom, consequent on a long
period of undisturbed peace, is alsp towards a centralisation of authority;
and this extends even to the remotest parts. The old feudal feeling is thus
constantly weakened ; and though the chief could still no doubt command
a party in his tribe, any overt opposition on his part to the supreme
authority would be supported by the mass of the tribesmen in a very half
hearted manner. They regard themselves now, in fact, as subjects of the
Shah, and not, as in old days, liegemen of their chiefs.— [Kinneir, Malcolm,
Fraser, Chesney, Gibbons: War Office, Persia, Part I: Mac Gregor, Napier,
Gondie Stephens.)
KHtJR CHAI— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A stream in Khurasan, which, rising near the village Khur, from which it
takes its name, flows in a north-easterly direction through the Chacha pass,,
where it is locally known as the Chacha, and falls into the Tajaud. Until
lately, most of the water of this stream has been expended in irrigation
before it reaches the Tajand ; but in the present year (1884) an agreement
has been ratified by the Persian and Russian Governments, to the effect
that, in the first place, the canals irrigating.the cultivation north of Darband
should be at once destroyed, and the cultivation of this neighbourhood put
a stop to; secondly, the restriction of the number of inhabitants in the
villages of Khur at the source of the stream, Chacha, and Amirabad.
Erom the Harim pass to the entrance of Darband only one bank of the
stream is to be cultivated yearly, and only one channel is to be used to
irrigate this cultivation. After the harvest the water of this channel is to
flow back to the stream. The cotton and melon cultivation of Chacha is
curtailed to an amount not exceeding 100 maunds. No shaltok crops*
are to be permitted. Throughout the entire length of the Chacha pass, i.e.,
between Darband and the village of Amirabad where the Ab-i-Garm joins
the Khur, there is to be no cultivation at all. No portion of the water of
the Ab-i-Garm shall be diverted. These and several similar conditions are
evidently made by the Russian Government with a view to the water of the
Khur being economised, and to enable a sufficient amount to reach the
Tajand. This water-supply between Mihna and Sarakhs will greatly
facilitate the movement of troops across the desert through which the
Askabad-Sarakhs road passes.
KHTJR CHASTAB— Lat. , Long. ; Elev. '.
A halting-place in Khurasan, with water at the end of the first stage from
Beyaza to Tabas.— {MacGregor.)
* Rice.