'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART I: A to K' [‎272r] (548/1278)

DAS—DAS
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of &mall and obscure tribes, including the Dahashiha, Dehdarha, Kab-
ganis, Khanasir, Muhallls, Qaidan, Shaikbani, Shaikhha, Tangasir, and
’Umruha ; and at some villages, especially on the coast, are found colonies
of Arab immigrants from Shibkuh and elsewhere, who are mostly bilingual
and Sunnis.
The Dashtis differ from their northern neighbours, the Tangistanis,
in being peacefully inclined, partially civilized, and comparatively amenable
to management. In the large places their houses are often of stone and
mud, but the ordinary villages consist merely of date-frond huts. Most
villages are, however, defended by one or more burj tufangchls, or rifle
towers of stone and mud. The greater part of the people is agriculturists
or, on the coast, sailors and fishermen ; a few make a living by trade. They
have a number of Martini rifles but, on the whole, are not so heavily armed
as the inhabitants of other districts of the Persian coast. The proportion
is about 3 rifles to 5 houses on the coast, and 2 rifles to 3 houses inland.
The Dashtis are a healthy, sturdy race, and nearly all labourers and boat
men at Bushire town are of their number. Vide also Stotherd’s report
given in the article on Pars.
Agriculture and trade. —The chief crops are wheat, barley, and dates ;
the date-plantations are everywhere watered from wells. There is not the
same quantity or variety of fruit as in Tangistan. The water-lift used is
called charkheh-i-chdhab, and is worked by a bullock, which is made to walk
down an inclined cutting in the ground. Cattle are fairly numerous and
sheep and goats are kept in great numbers.
Trade on a small scale is general, but there is nowhere any large bazar
or mercantile centre, unless the towns of Khurmuj and Daiyir may be so
accounted. The exports of the district are cattle, ghl, wheat, barley,
dates, tobacco, onions, firewood, charcoal, and earthenware, also some
’abas of local manufacture. Imports are cotton piece-goods, rice, coffee,
sugar, and tea. The ordinary currency consists of Persian Jcrdns, but the
Indian rupee circulates in some of the coast villages. The standards of
weight are a local man of 5 lbs. 13 ozs. and a Hashim man which is 16 local
mans. The chief port is Daiyir.
Communications and transport. —The only known routes in the district
are a section of the Bushire-Bandar’ Abbas route, which passes through
Khurmuj town and leaves Dashti by the gorge of the Mund river ; and a
route which runs from Khurmuj town by Kald, Daiyir on the coast; neither
apparently presents any difficulties. Donkeys and camels are available
in considerable numbers.
Administration. —The Dashti district belongs to Pars, but it is sometimes
farmed from the Governor of Pars by the Governor of the Gulf Ports. It
is administered by a hereditary Khan, of reputed Arab descent, who has
his residence at Khurmuj and became master of the district, after numerous
smaller Khans or Shaikhs had reduced themselves to impotence by their
internecine feuds. The Khan pays 16,000 tumdns a year for the district
of Dashti to the Governor of Pars or the Governor of the Gulf Ports, accord
ing to circumstances. There is no organized police force, but the Khan’s
personal retainers maintain order on the roads, and village affairs are
regulated through the headmen. In the large places there are some highly