'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART I: A to K' [‎438r] (880/1278)

ILI—ILI
431
The following is a concise and more recent account of the I Hats by Bell,
1884 :—
The llldts of South-West Persia.
The peoples inhabiting the south-west of Persia are chiefly Iliat, or
nomads, of foreign origin, the residue of the overflowings from both the west
and east of the Saracen conquerors and of the followers of Jangiz Khan
and Timur. They constitute, perhaps, rather more than one-fourth of
the inhabitants of Persia, and are now both ShaJir and Deh-Nishins (settlers
in towns and villages) and Sahrd-Nishins or lliats (nomads) ; the former
are despised by the latter and considered by them to be degenerate, and
hillers-off from the simplicity and hardihood of nomad life, and recurrers to
city protection. This sentiment is but one of envy ; the life of the Deh-
Nishms-wovdd attract all did not the counterbalancing fear of exactions
and increased taxation serve to force them to a mode of life less under
government control. A foreign race, they are prone to rebellion, and if
assisted from abroad would not submit to Persia.
The Sahrd-N ishins are taxed, kept dispersed, and their chiefs kept a *
hostages at T ib r an ; they are made to contribute to the military power
of the State, but are less molested than the Shahr-Nishins ; the limits of their
pastures are defined by government.
Their flocks are taxed ; and if they cultivate the soil they are taxed as
cultivators.
A moderate fortune for an Iliat consists in the possession of 100 sheep,
3 or 4 mares, 10 asses, yielding a revenue of from 40 or 50 tumdns. A
rich Khan will possess ten times the above.
They possess a fine race of dogs ; sheep constitute their chief wealth.
They are good raw material for troops, but difficult to discipline.
llidt. —The Persian irregular cavalry is chiefly recruited from the
lliats. Individually they are excellent horsemen, expert in the use of
carbine, sword, and lance, but they cannot act in unison.
Their officers are no better trained in tactical knowledge than the rank
and file, and the troops, being commanded by their own local chief, family
jealousies prevent a unity of feeling and aim.
The cavalry horses (when a force of lliats is embodied) are sent out under
a small guard to graze whenever possible ; in quarters their food consists
of chopped straw and barley ; an average daily ration is 7 lbs. of barley
and from 14 to 20 lbs. of chopped straw.
This is also the ration given by the chdrvdddrs to their mules on the line
ot march.
llidt infantry. —Although the lliats furnish to Persia the greater part
of her cavalry, an arm on which she almost wholly relied in past times,
yet their infantry has often been called into the field ; the Bakhtlarl
infantry was renowned as the best in the kingdom.
Numbers, power, occupations, etc. —The lliats scattered over Persia have
been estimated to number 2,700,000. They are brought up in ignorance of
everything except tending their flocks, weaving, and martial exercises.
They are taught to despise peaceful occupations. The Shah can call
upon them to furnish for service one horseman and two foot soldiers for
every ten families, or about 130,000 men if a universal levy were made.
Ft. I. 2 i