‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎13r] (30/722)

AKBAR —Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A pass in Khurasan, south of Askabad, on the road to Mashhad. ’ It is
the only place, according to M. Lessar, which presents any difficulties in the
way of a good road being made between those two places.— {Stephen.)
A KB ART —Lat. , Long. ; Elev. \
A village in the Nimbuluk subdivision of the Ghain district of Khura
san.— (Bellew.)
AKDARBAND— Lat. 36° 6' 0", Long. 61° 5' 0"; Eluv. ' [Napier).
A pass in the Tabut-Kah subdivision of Eastern Khurasan, the inhabitants
of which are Kurds of various tribes.- It is situated in the Mudaran moun
tains on the southernmost road from Mashhad to Sarakhs, 91 miles
from the former, and 38 miles from the latter. It guards both the moun
tain pass and the passage of the Kashaf Rud flowing between its scarped
banks. All across the pass from the east is closed by towers placed in
commanding positions overhanging the defile, so that the position of
Akdarband becomes one of ven considerable importance as regards the
defence of this frontier, as by it lies the only practicable road between
Mazandaran and the range bounding the Mashhad valley on the south.
The towers at the entrance are held by a garrison of 50 Persian horsemen
and a few infantry. Its name signifies the “ White Pass." Some of the
Salor Turkmans have settled near here.— [Thomson, MacGregor, Napier,
Stewart.)
AKDASHIAK— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
An Akhal Turkman fort on the border of Khurasan, 11 miles north-west
of Askabad.— [MacGregor.)
AKHAL.
One of the four Turkman tribes, giving its name to the tract of country
the tribe inhabits outside the Atak, or north-east frontier of Khurasan.
Tho other three are the Marv Tekkes, the Goklans, and the Yamuts.
The Akhal tract forms an oasis lying between the mountain skirt on the
south and the Karakan desert on the north, and runs from Kizil-Arvat on
the north-west to Gavars on the south-east. Since the capture of Gok-
Tapa it has become Russian territory. Petrusevitch, Yambery, and
others fixed the population of the Akhal division at 25,000 tents, or 40,000
males, able to supply about 4,000 horse and 2,000 foot But Napier and
Stephen have lately placed their number at 8,000 tents and M. Zino-
vieff at 125,000 souls, numbers having fled to Marv and the Tajand and
not returned.
The Turkmans have no political organization. Each member of a tribe
is entirely independent, and in time of peace recognizes no constituted
authority. Since their conquest the Akhals have shown a sullen and in
jured appearance as if smarting under a sense of undeserved defeat.
Stephen, in 1881, considered it very doubtful whether the people would
ever settle down to agricultural occupation. It is more probable that the
majority ’will seek military service, and be employed, like the Cossacks,
as light cavalry. A corps of or light horse, was formed in 1881
by General Skobeleff. MacGregor gives a list of their 41 forts commenc
ing from Gavars on the east, viz., Anan, Askabad, Kurhi, Gujja, Kipchak,
Hirak, Salugli, Yasman, Akdashayak, Karadashayak, Izband, Baba Arab
Kurja, Kulajar, Beghar, Yangi-Kala, Yunshan, Gunbadli, Kanjik, Kakshal
Abbal, Gok-Tapa, Yarajir, Maken, Kala Nur Vardi, Ak-Tapa, Kari