‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎68r] (140/722)

89
CHARARHS —Lat. , Long. • Elev. '
A large village, containing probably 700 inhabitants, in the r Sunikh£tna
division of the district of Kafn, Eastern Khurasan, 58 miles east of Kahi, on
the road to Herat. It has water and supplies. A good many caravans pass
through this place on their way from Ghurian to Bfrjand. Charakhs is
celebrated for its good tobacco, but it has not a great deal of cultivation.
Grain is brought from Ghurian, and from the villages in the districts known
as Zir Kut, or “ Under the hills.” The whole country round is a howling
desert, with the exception of the portion just round the few villao-es —
{MacGregor, Stewart.) *
CHAR AM Lat. , Long. • Elev. \
A village m North-Eastern Khurasan in the Kalat-i-Nadiri district under
Behbud Khan. It is situated to the west of the natural fortress of Kalat,
and consists of about 50 houses. It has suffered much from Turkman
raids.— {Mac Gregor.)
CHARBAGH— Lat. , Long. j Elev. 7,100'.
A gipsy encampment, consisting of a tower and some enclosures, in Astar-
abad district, between Chardeh and Ziarat, on the road to Astarabad from
Mazandaran.
It is situated in a valley of the same name, hemmed in by the Lari and
Land! mountains to the north and by the Shah-Kuh range to the south.
The valley is reached by crossing the Kuzluk Kotal at the head of the
valley (north-west), and then spreads out, descending from 7,600 feet, the
level of the water parting, to 7,100 in the neighbourhood of Cbarbagh.
The scenery changes as if by magic, and is very different from the Caspian
provinces. The valley presents a dull uniform yellow ochre tint, mitigated
by a sparse sprinkling of funeral-looking yews and hummocks of heather
and thistles.— {Lovett).
CHARDAH KALA— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in Khurasan, Persia, close to the village of Chasmah-i-Ali. It
is described as a picturesque village.— {Eastwick.)
CHARHA— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in the Daraghaz Atak, Northern Khurasan, inhabited by Sum
Muhammadans.— {Stewart.)
CHARTK BLANG— Lat. , Long. ; Elev. '.
An extensive plateau in Northern Khurasan, where the two main branches of
the Atak river, the Ab-i-Sunt and the Chandir, have their rise.— {Napier.)
CHARMAGAN —Lat. , Long. ; Elev. '.
A tributary of the Atrak river in Northern Khurasan. It flows north
from the Ala-Dagh range, and joins the Atrak just beyond the town of
Shirwan.— {Petrusevitch.)
CHARWAS.
A name given to those tribes of Yamut Turkmans who possess cattle, horses,
and flocks, and who are always moving about changing their camps for
summer and winter ; visiting for pasturage localities north of the Atrak river
as far as Balkhan in one direction, and in the other eastwards as far as
Kara-Kala, which is about 112 miles from Bujnurd. They are called
Charwas in contradistinction to the settled tribes of Yamuts who dwell in
fixed camps. These latter are called Charmirs. The Charwas keep more to
the north towards the Atrak. For a considerable part of the year, they are
away in the Balkhan and Misrian districts, and some of their camps move
on to near Kizil-i-Arvat and the Akhal country ; but they all return during
12