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like those of Kirrind, are flat-roofed, and rise in terraces on the slope of
the mountain. It is the residence of the Chief, Shabas Khan, who is also
the head of the Griiran levies when the Amir of Kirmanshah requires
their services in the field. Ten years ago, when the Persian forces were
commanded by British officers, Major Rawlinson was appointed to raise
a regiment of G urans for the service of the State. This he accomplished,
after some trouble, and resided in this locality until he had brought his
new corps into a state of perfection almost unknown in these regions.
He afterwards led this regiment through the intricate passes of
Luristan and Susiana, and to this journey, and to his residence
among the Gurans, we are indebted for his admirable paper* on
the comparative Geography and historical notices of some of the
most interesting countries alluded to by ancient writers, and which
had seldom, if ever, before been trodden by the foot of an Euro
pean. A great change has, however, happened since the British
officers were withdrawn, and this corps, that before consisted of near
800 rank and file, now scarcely mustered 350 bayonets. Oppression,
wages in arrear, irregular service, and a thorough absence of system, are
the chief causes of this decline. The same causes have operated, in a
more or less degree, on the whole Persian army, under the inbecile Go
vernment of the present Shah, and the tyrannical conduct of provincial
Governors. At the present time Mohab Ali Khan, the Amir of this
province, is compelled to confine himself to the city of Kirmanshah, the
large tribe of the Calhurs having risen—not to seek redress for imagina
ry grievances, but—to obtain the j ustice which has hitherto been denied
them. The extent to which taxation had of late been raised, rendered
it utterly impossible for the poor cultivators to comply with the increas
ed demands ; and then the rapacious agents of so worthy a master, equal
ly alive to their own interests, resorted to a system which in a very short
time left the brave but oppressed ryot nothing but his sword to sub
sist by. Can it be wondered at, then, if that weapon was appealed to ?
The system adopted by these worthies, who were mostly confidential
Sirbaz of Azerbijan, and not remarkably celebrated for humanity, should
not be left unrecorded. On collecting the taxes, how few were enabled
to realise the sum demanded from the augmentation of the imposts, I
have already shewn. It became necessary to borrow the deficiency to
save the individual from a prison. Advantage, too, was taken of the
time for levying these dues when the crops were nearly ripe, and when
* Notes on a March from Zohab to Kliuzistan, in the Royal Geographical Jour
nal, Vol. IX. 1039, Part I.