‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎25v] (55/722)

30
There is cover all round to within a few yards of the ditch; but this, if
judiciously placed, might add immensely to the strength of the place; as it
consists of thick—in fact, perfectly impervious—thorn bush called Pahlwan-i-
Mazandaran, which nothing could get through, and which it would be
extremely difficult to cut, and impossible to burn.
The seraglio is a separate building surrounded by high walls, and situated
a short distance from the palace towards the south. Eastwick says the most
curious thing to be seen at Astarabad is the ambar or prison, a place about
10 feet square, in which Turkmans when taken are kept before execution.
In one corner of this den were piled at the time of his visit 41 human heads
stuffed with straw.
The Governor of Astarabad, who has the title of “ Sahib-i-Ikhtiar/"’ was
in 1874 Suliman Khan Afshar, an elderly man; he had served the Gov
ernment in different capacities for many years, and stood in high favour
with the Shah. He previously held the government of Karmanshah.
Astarabad is considered a most difficult and responsible post. The governor
is given the credit of having resisted as much as possible the encroachments
of the Russians on the Atrak and their assumption of authority over the
Turkman tribes living on the borders of the two territories.
Some 40 or 50 petty merchants, residing at Astarabad, carry on a trade
with the surrounding provinces. Some of it is in transit to Mashhad, and
the a dials'^ and “ namads w of the Turkmans are sent to Tehran, and
from thence to all parts of Persia. The remainder seems to be almost entirely
confined to the consumption of thq town and neighbouring villages. The im
ports from Tehran are European manufactures, chiefly English ; also silks and
velvets fromKashan—from Russia, cloth,-iron, glass, hardware, painted boxes,
loaf-sugar, prints, China-ware, and a very small quantity of tea; from Khiva, ox
hides and various skins ; from Mashhad, a few cloaks and other manufactures ;
and from the Turkmans, “ namads " “ dials,salt, horses, and naptha. The
exports are soap, of which a great deal is manufactured here and goes to all the
neighbouring provinces. Oil of sesame and the seed sent to Russia and the
neighbouring provinces are also used in the manufacture of soap. “ dials”
and “namads” in transit to all parts of Persia and also to Russia. Manu
factures of Kashan and British goods in transit to Mashhad ; rice and corn
to the Turkmans; cotton, a small quantity, to Russia and Gilan. No
duties are levied on the inland trade on this side of the mountains. The
Russians pay the usual 5 per cent. The customs are farmed by the
governor. It is exceedingly difficult to form any estimate of the quantities
of the respective goods, or of the total annual amount of this trade. The
revenue derived from the town amounts to about £300 ; of which £50 is the
property of the crown and the remainder belongs to the governor. The
office of darogha, head of police, is farmed for £125, and the remainder is
derived from taxes on shops. The slave trade, says Eastwick, goes on briskly
at Astarabad ; and he was told that 500 Kalpak girls had been sold there
lately for from 10 to 40 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. each.
Astarabad is called the Dar-al-Mumimn, or the “ Gate of the Faithful,”
from the number of Sayads who inhabit it. The Astarabadis have the
reputation of being very courageous—a character which they have acquired
perhaps more from the impenetrable nature of their country than from
real prowess. Almost every man is armed with a matchlock gun ; a
precaution rendered necessary by the neighbourhood of the Turkmans,
who in their inroads often surprise them whilst they are labouring in the
fields, and carry them away into servitude.