‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎118r] (240/722)

situated on tlie most lawless border of Persia, wliich was formerly per
petually swept by raids of Turkumans, Afghans, and Baluchis, is now, owing"
to his strong firm rule, as safe (except perhaps in the Zirkuh subdivision) as
any part of Persia. He maintains for this purpose, and to garrison Sfstan,
a force of 11 guns, one of which is an 18-pr., the others being 9-prs. and
6-prs., 1,00U cavalry and 2,000 infantry. The Amir of Earn pays a revenue
of 23,000 tumans to the Shah, and supports the whole expenditure of
troops and government servants located in his province ; he, moreover,
transmits from time to time presents, or <r ta’arufat/ in money and kind
to Tihran.
The present Amir was born in about 1827. He is described as a tall,
fine-looking man, rather dark, with a countenance principally noticeable
for the immense size of the jawbones, which project from his face like
fins. He wears a thick moustache, is not unlike the Shah, and his expres
sion, though somewhat stern and cruel, with a want of frankness in it, can
at times be very courteous and engaging. He showed himself some
what jealous of the proceedings of the British Commission under Sir F.
Goldsmid, which was sent to Sistan in 1870-72 to lay down the boundary
between Afghanistan and Persian Sistan; but received Colonel MacGregor
in 1875 with civility.
However, he is said to be quite the most powerful chief in Khurasan.
Though his rule is severe, he is not unpopular with the people, except in
Sistan, where he is disliked for extorting a sum in excess of the requirements
of the Persian Government. He has not yet gone over to the Russian
Government.— [Goldmid, Beliew, MacGregor.)
Kainis the place known to the tribes as Artacona, and was visited by
Alexander with his army. The present town, however, is not that visited by
Alexander, but was built by the IJsbaks. About two miles from the present
town on a steep hill are the ruins of a very strong stone fort, the Kala Kuh,
many of the buildings of which, and even the outer walls, are still in good
preservation. The road up the difficult ascent is very bad indeed. Another
fort, the Kala Dukhtar, is a mile distant. Men digging for gypsum find
coins. There is a modern Imamzadah in good repair at the foot of the hill.
This Kain was destroyed by Shah Rukh, who built the present town ; and
the Usbaks held Kain until the time of Shah Abbas the Great, who expelled
them. The inhabitants are largely of Arab descent: one-third are Saiyids and
more than one-third priests. It has ceased to be the capital of the Amirs
of Kain. A good deal of opium is grown, and the people are much
addicted to both opium smoking and eating; the quantity consumed
in the place being extraordinary. Khanikoff was much struck with the
windmills of Kain.— ‘{MacGregor, Bellew, Buan-Smith, Stewart.)
The royal tribe of Persia. They inhabit portions of Astarabad, Mazan-
daran, Khurasan, and Tihran, and number about 10,000 families. The divi
sions of the tribe are—
Toharibdsh:
Hevanlu.
Khazi Nehdonlu.
Seponlu.
Kerlu.
Kohnalu.
Khaizahlu.
Ashagabdsh :
Kavanlu.
Azdanlu.
Ziandlu.
Shambeyatlu.
Tashlu.
Caramansanlu.