‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎75v] (155/722)

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Ata Yar Khan, the present chief, has a tighter hold on the border than
* his predecessors, and is on better terms with the Turkmans ; but he has
often to buy off his enemies, and is at their mercy if they choose to combine.
The Akhal settlements can with ease bring 5,0()0 horsemen against any
point on the border, and supplement these with 2,000 or 3,000 footmen if
necessary.
To guard against this, the Khan of Daraghaz has 800 horsemen in pay, and
always ready either for foray or pursuit. They are mounted, armed, and paid
by the Khan as a condition of tenure of his State ; and are short, light, handy
men, and excellent riders. The horses are all good, serviceable animals. I was
surprised to find that no more than these 800 men could be raised. The vil
lagers have no horses and the Khan no stud. He is entirely dependant on
the Turkmans for remounts. This is the case also with Kuchan. A couple
of thousand footmen, badly armed with matchlocks, might be raised from
the villages on an emergency in 21 hours ; and as the whole population is
armed, and all are prepared by a life of constant warfare and alarm to
defend their lands and hearths at a moment’s notice, this force might be
speedily doubled by contingents from the mountains and upper valley.
The arms of the villagers are inferior to those of the wealthier populations
of Kuchan and Bujnurd, who have usually good rifles made in Mashhad
and other towns of Khurasan. Exposed as the whole northern border of
the chiefship is to sudden attacks by overwhelming forces from the desert
and the Akhal :c Atak, ” the burden of self-protection falls heavily
on the people. In the “ Atak/’ where the Khan’s cavalry can usually only
arrive in time to pursue the assailants after all the mischief in their power
has been done, the wh ile p .pulation may be said to be constantly on
guard. Every village keeps watch day and nicrht on its walls, and every
gang of sowars and keepers goes to work matchlock in hand, and stations
watchmen on the high round towers that dot the fields in all directions at
very short intervals. The inner line of defence extends from the heights
above the Rudvar, east of the valley, to Kalta Chinar, on the Kuchan bor
der; and every pass and pathway has its watch tower occupied constantly by
parties of villagers.
lenure of chief ■'•hip .— The Khan of Daraghaz holds his lands free of any
revenue, but subject to the payment of a yearly tribute, in the shape of
presents of money and horses, the amount of which regulates the treat
ment which he receives at the hands of the provincial and central govern
ments. A sum of 750 tumans is allotted yearly from the Mashhad
treasury to pay a portion of the horsemen entertained for the defence of
the border. Formerly 1,500 tumans was the amount of the grant; but
even that was quite insufficient, for the pay of 800 men would alone
amount to at least 8,000 tumans. The arrangement is, however, purely
nominal; for no portion of the suosidy leaves the hands of the officials at
Mashhad.
Origin of Chiefs family.—The family of the Chief of Daraghaz is, as before
mentioned, of lurk origin. Shortly after the birth of Nadir Shah, a petty
Khan of Korshi, Muhamad Baba Khan, Beglarbegi, migrated to Persia with
a few hundred men of his own race, and was granted lands at Daraghaz by
Baba Ahmad Beg, Afshar, Governor of Ab-i-Vard and of the country round,
they rebuilt the village of Chupushlu, which had been destroyed, and brought
its fei tile lands into cultivation. After some years’ quiet occupation a new
governor, who was no other than Nadir, was appointed to Ab-i-Vard. Baba