‘Military report on Persia Volume I 1930’ [‎26r] (56/154)

^4) Towns and Villages (in alphabetical order).
Aliahad a well built village of 250 houses with good
■water supply and many gardens. Population about 1,500*
Birj and .—Elevation 4,600/ on the northern slopes of ai
barren stonv valley, has a population of about 8 10,000
souls. The inhabitants are mostly descended from Shadillu
Kurds, but there is a strong leavening, especially in com
mercial pursuits, of Persians and Turks. The town was
originally walled, as is the case with most towns in the
north, but very little trace of the old walls now remains.
The eastern gate still, however, remains fairly intact and
gives some idea of the original line. The town is approxi
mately >3 miles in circumference and contains a large number,
of gardens. Birjand has a big bazaar consisting of 700
shops with a large number of leather workers. Good water
is abundant. To the west of the town, at the end of a
spur, is situated a fort, which is a more important w r ork.
It is a square of about 100 yards with walls 40 feet high,
built on the river bank which is scarped to the north; the
approaches from all directions are difficult and steep. It is
at present in a ruinous and useless state, hut if put into
good repair, might be held against Infantry. Cover exists
close up to it and it is commanded by a hill about 1,500
yards to the east. Birjand is self-supporting in cereals,
but tea and sugar have to be imported. An extensive
cantonment was built under the hills about three miles
from the town, for the Headquarters of our Line of Com
munications, and up to May 1921 was still in an excellent
state of repair. The summer residence of His Majesty’s
Consul for Seistan and Kain is situated close to this can
tonment. The British Vice-Consulate is in the town of
Birjand itself.
Bunjar .—The largest village outside Seistan proper.
Population 6,000, houses 5,000. There are many good
gardens.
Daulatabad .—Population 2,000 with 400 houses. An
important supply centre.
Hurmuk 37 miles from Duzdap.—Large Cantonment
only (built in 1919), but water plentiful and good. The
buildings here have been looted of anything moveable.
Khunik—Small village. No supplies available in 1910.
3 k serai was built here for troops marching through,, but