‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎144r] (292/722)

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241
The Goklan settlement o£ San gar, three farsaMis east from Naudih,
though now permanent, may he considered as merely a GoMan “ Obah. ,J
From Naudih east a line skirting the base of the mountains and the Kiihsar
district for 20 miles would indicate the boundary. Beyond Kuhsar lies the
Kalpush plateau, along the crest of which the line may be drawn.
Between the Kalpush village, Nanik, and the western frontier villages of
Bujnurd extends a tract of barren, uninhabited, hilly country. The
boundary line of actual possession should, therefore, be deflected southward
to the frontiers of Jah Jarm* and Isfarain, and, skirting the southern
base of the outer range of Alburz as far as the Darband-i-Hisar, bo
carried again north-north-west to Kala Khan, the frontier hamlet of
Simalghan, and thence along the left bank of the Garmai Khana or Atrak
to. the junction of the Khushkhana stream north of Bujnurd. After
following this stream for some miles, the line should strike the outer or
Atak range, and follow its crest, including the villages of the Khush
khana plateau and Darbadan ; then descend east of Gawars into the
Atak, and, still following the line of the mountains at a distance of
15 to 20 miles from their base, terminate at Ak-Darband, or at Sarakhs,
as the Persian tenure of the latter place may he deemed to give possession
of the country in its rear or not.
South of the line thus drawn every foot of the country is in undisputed
possession of Persia, and is for the most part now little liable to Turku-
man incursion. Certainly no claim to any portion of it could he made
on the ground of Turkuman tenure.
A line drawn north from Naudih to the Gumbaz-i-Kauz, which lies due
north ; then south along the left bank of the Gurgan
up to the base of the hills, and thence alone: the
Goklan boundary.
crest of the hills to the north of the watershed to Simalghan, would in
clude all the pastures of the Goklan Turkumans and the country held by
them undisputably, though subject to the incursions of their Tekke and
Yamut neighbours.
The second line, the line up to which, if not beyond, Persian influence is
felt and acknowledged by the tribes, and was, till a late
Boundary line of date the only foreign influence affecting their move-
eisian in uenct. rnents at all seriously, should he drawn up the Atrak
and its tributaries, the Chandir and Ab-i-Sunt; and thence along the crest
of the Atak range till it meets the first line.
This line, although it includes the pastures of the Goklan and of a great
portion of the Yamut, and a large tract of country totally uninhabited,
but dotted with ruins of Persian villages and caravansarais, is no political
fiction; but really indicates the limits up to which at least Persia is
recognized as having certain sovereign rights.
The political divisions of Khurasan are as follows :—
1. Slialmld Bus tan. 5. Kalat-i-Nadirl. 8. Sabzawar.
2. Bujnurd. 6. Mashhad. 9. Turshxz.
3. Kuchan. 7. Mshapur. 10. Turbat.
4. Daraghaz.
The principal towns are—
1. Mashhad. 4. Nishapur. 7. Turbat-i-Haidan.
2. Bujnurd. 5. Turbat-i-Shaikh. 8. Khaf.
3. Kucha. 6. Jam. 9. Birjand.
11. Jam.
12. Khaf.
13. Tabas-wa-Tun.
14. Kain.
10. Kain. 13. Tun.
11. Tabas. 14. Sabzawar.
12. Tursbiz.
* or “ Jajarm.”
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