‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎28r] (60/722)

square mile or more of ground. Neat orchards hedged or fenced with cane
work, paddocks filled with fine cattle, well raised and drained pathways,
and extensive cultivated clearings give an appearance of comfort and suit-
stance ; while the surplus produce of the village lands finds its way as
far as Jah Jarm and Askabad, and a large and increasing area is sown
with cotton.
This well-to-do village of Finderisk has many counterparts both in the
eastern and western buluks.
There were in fact signs on all parts of a steady progress in material
prosperity due to increased security and an increased demand for the produc
tions of the land—causes that will, it may be presumed, continue to work
out the regeneration of the country.
Traces of ruined villages and the lines of old kanats are common enough
even in the depths of the forest; but these are relics of the period of
prosperity enjoyed by the country under the Safavian kings, the return
of which may not be expected save under vastly improved conditions of
government.
Though the state of the country as regards security is much improved,
as is shown by the free use of the Kuzluk pass across the mountains to
Shahrud, formerly never taken without strong escort, there remains much
room for further improvement.
The policy of the Persian Government towards the Turkmans nominally
subject is characterized by great weakness. Their thefts and plunderings,
though now attempted only on a small scale, are condoned with the view of
winning their allegiance.
As a set-off, the revenue of the greater portion of the villages of the
district has been remitted, and an additional burden thus, laid on the general
revenues of the country; for a force for the defence of the border has still to
be maintained and paid.
Though the times are so much changed, and their Turkman neighbours
are not the scourge they once were to the peasantry of
Astarabad, a feeling is unmistakeably evinced, in word
and look, of the most bitter hatred still. The peasant regards the roving
nomad as a deadly enemy ; and his hatred is but little
Relations with Turk- m ingled with fear. The half superstitious dread of
the Tartar horsemen that unmans the Persian of the
interior is unknown to him. He regards him only as a dangerous foe, whom
he can always meet on equal terms even on his own ground.
The “ Charwars,” or nomadic Yamuts, are alone the object of this feeling ;
for the nomad when he has settled down and fairly, joined the “ Chumur,”
an agricultural class, becomes a neighbour, with whom an intercourse is
maintained more or less close and friendly, as his connection with the plun
dering camps is distant or otherwise. I found in several instances head
men of the “ Chumur ” Yamut camps among my guards, and learnt that
they frequently made common cause with their neighbours of the border
villages. Their interests become in fact identical when settled near each
other and engaged in the same pursuits.
This fact is an important one as bearing on the future prospects of the
country ; for it affords ground for a presumption that any efforts that may
be made to settle the southern sections of the \ amuts in Persia wull meet
with no such difficulties as might have been anticipated from antagonism
of races.
Political condition.