‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎154v] (313/722)

No horses are bred, the chief only having a few mares. He is entirely
dependent for remounts on purchase or exchange of Turkuman prisoners.
This dependence on an enemy is the weak point in the organisation of the
defensive forces all along the Turkuman border ; for it makes it impossible
' to increase the numbers of mounted men, or to supply losses in war rapidly.
With an unlimited supply of men fit to ride, the chief would thus with
the utmost efforts be unable to collect more than 1,500 horse.
The Khushkhana plateau, which has fine pastures, furnishes from 200 to
300 of the Kuchan horse ; and a body of that number is usually stationed
there to defend the weakest point of the border, and to be ready to raid
without delay in any direction the chief may direct. At Shmvan there
are also 30 to 40 Shamkhalchis, mounted matchlockmen.
About 1,000 to 1,200 footmen are paid by the chief and employed in
the watch-towers on the border. Of these, 500 to 600 are furnished by
Shir wan and Khushkhana; the rest by Kuchan and villages in the vicinity.
The men are paid at the rate of 24 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per annum, with an allowance of
1,300 lbs. of corn.
The adult male peasants of the district must number not less than from
15,000 to 20,000 ; and a large proportion are armed. The border villagers
are inured to war, and are fair marksmen. In their own mountains they
would prove formidable adversaries.
The force above detailed has a long line of frontier to defend against an
_ _ enemy immensely superior in number and able to
I ositions to oe & uaiCt -- i ncreaS e his superiority almost indefinitely by calling
in aid from the main body of the tribe.
As in the case of Bujnurd, it is only the great natural strength of the
country that enables the small body of Kurds, not only to hold its own
on an extended line within sight of the enemy's settlements, but to retaliate
most effectively, and to mount and maintain itself at his expense.
The position of the Zafaranlu is even stronger than that of their
kinsmen to the west, who are always liable to have their left flank turned
by the penetrable (though difficult) country about the Atrak tributaries.
They are covered by the latter on one flank and by Daraghaz on the other.
Their front is equally strong. The Atak range forms a perfect scarp of
several thousand feet, at the foot of which lie the Turkuman c obahs,' and
on the crest the frontier post and villages. The gaps in this scarped wall
are very few, the oidy really vulnerable point being the Khushkhana
plateau, where however the villagers can muster in force, and are well able
to take care of themselves. In such a strong position a careful guard against
surprise is all that is requisite to ensure safety.
The line of the Zafaranlu posts commences west of Kala-i-Chanar, which
. , lies 3,GUO or 4,000 feet above Aman, and following
Positions o e & aai e • r pjg e 0 £ Kiih Asalma, a great mass of the Atak
range, crosses into the Atrak watershed, and passing round Khushkhana joins
the Shahdillu line near Mana.
The eastern posts are supported directly from Kuchan, from which they
are distant on an average about 30 miles by road. The western, from
Shirwan, where the Khan's son usually resides. The distances to be
traversed are from 15 to 20 miles.
The chief, or as he is sometimes styled the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Zafaranlu, holds-
...... his country on somewhat the same terms as the 11-
Tcmiu. o c ie blips. 0 f Bujnurd. He is bound to give military
service when required, and to guard his border and the districts in hi*