‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎74v] (153/722)

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gap by which the Atak is gained; its waste waters are Just in tlie desert
If unreduced by numerous irrigation channels, it would no doubt reach the*
hollows of the Tajand.
The principal routes from the Daraghaz valley are—
(1) East to Merv across the desert caravan route.
(2) East and south-east Ab-i-Yert, Chardeh, and Sarakhs. A caravan
route.
(3) East to Kalat by Igdalik. Practicable for mules.
(t) South to Mashhad and Kuchan by the Allah-o-Akbar pass. Prac
ticable for mules.
(5) West and south-west by the Dawand pass to Kuchan. Practicable
for mules and camels.
(6) North-west to Askabad in Akhal Atak. Practicable for mules
and camels.
Principal villager. —These are Muhamaddbdd, Chvpushlv, and NauTchanddn.
The first stands two miles from the northern range of hills, and about that
distance from the stream, and is enclosed in a broad circle of woods, vineyards
and gardens. It numbers 700 houses, is clean and well built, and defended
by a good wall standing on a rampart of earth, at the base of which is a deep
ditch. Both ramparts and ditch are as usual deficient in flanking defence
but the place is much stronger than the forts of the country usually are.
r Ihe walls form a rectangle of about 400 yards by 500 yards. On the north
western side is a high mound, the site of an ancient fire temple, from
which a good view of the interior is obtained. This village is the residence
of the Khan, and the place of refuge of the inhabitants of the small villages
and hamlets for some miles round.
Chupushlu is distant eight miles south by road from Muhamadabad, and
divided from it by a low rocky ridge. It was nearly destroyed by the Teke
Turkmans in 1370 : though many houses are still in ruins, the walls are kept
in good repair, audits vineyards and gardens are extensive and productive.
It is the residence of one of the chief ’s half brothers ; who, with 100 horsemen,
watches the eastern side of the valley. The population numbers about
400 households.
Naukhandan is a fine village, the residence of two of the chiefs brothers.
It lies eight miles north-west of Muhamadabad on the banks of the
stieam, and numbers 700 houses. Its vineyards and gardens are said to be
more productive than any in the valley.
r Population,, the population is a mixed one, formed from the various
ImL and Kurd tribes of the border. The aboriginal Persian population
was probably swept out of the valley by the first waves of Turkman con
quest, and there are now no traces left of it save perhaps some high circular
mounds, which, according to local belief, were the sites of fire temples.
4 he only evidence of former antiquity that tells any intelligible tale is a
small masonry imamzada with a Cufic inscription, dating some 700 to
800 years back. Of the inhabitants of that period even there is only this
single trace. The oldest tribe, i.e., the tribe that has been settled longest,
now in the valley is that of the Chief of Daraghaz, whose ancestors migrated
from Korshi, on the Oxus, and were granted the village of Chupushlu. ^ They
oim, however, but a small portion; the rest being made up of Afshars,
eiailis, and Kurds of all the tribes living on the other side of the range, who
ave settled in the valley at various times, taking the places of families
slaughtered in their homes, or carried into captivity by the Turkmans.