‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎155v] (315/722)

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prudence, and a forecast of the troubles that have since befallen him, led
the Khan to a reconciliation. He pardoned his son, and entrusted him
with the direct administration of the whole district. Since then there has
been peace in the country ; and it is a misfortune for the tribe that the
family should have succumbed to external enemies.
The present Khan is a son of Kiza Kuli Khan, who maintained himself
for some time in rebellion against the authority of Fateh All Shah, and was
only reduced by the exertions of Abbas Mirza, with a large army directed
by European officers. He has an elder brother, Kurdu Khan, residing in
Kuchan, but having no influence or authority.
The relations of the Kuchan chief and of the people with the Turkumans are
similar to those of the other border chiefs. A state
Relations with Turku- 0 |i 0 p en wa rfare, or what in any other country would
lliaa3 ' be so considered, does not interfere with much inter
course of an almost friendly nature. Turkumans and Kurds come and go
across the border, while each side watches closely to guard against surprise,
and to seize promptly any opportunity of assailing the other with advant
age. There are many Akhal Turkumans in the town and at Shirwan ;
and the chiefs are well acquainted with their movements, and apparently
able to exercise some influence over them. The Akhal is the only tribe that
has direct communication with Kuchan. The Yamuts are beyond reach; and
the Marv Turkumans deal only with the chiefs of Daraghaz and Kalat.
Amir Husain Khan is a Kurd of a tribe quite distinct from the ordinary
Persian and Turkuman of the district. He has adopted European customs
in eating and drinking, not eschewing wine, and having his table furnished
with glass, plate, &c., principally of llussian make. He is on friendly
terms with the Itussians, receiving presents from them; and he supplied the
Russian troops in 1880-81 with provisions. Like the other border chiefs,
he respects and is grateful to the power that has relieved him from the
Turkuman raids.— (Napier, MacGregor, O’ Donovan.)
KtfCHAN— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A stream in Khurasan, which rises in the mountains north of the town of
Kuchan, and flows west to the Kuchan plain past Shirwan, and thence
passes into a narrow defile, enclosed by high mountains, known as the
Garmakhan, in which it flows till it reaches the Gurgan plain. It is
crossed at a few miles from Slhrwan by the road thence to Bujnurd; it
flows then in a deep bed, with steep gravelly banks, passable at all times,
both banks being about equal in height and the approaches level. This
stream is, in fact, the main tributary of the Atrak in its early course.
This is the same as the Tabarik or Tawarik.— (Napier.)
KfJCHAN, or KIIABTJSHAN— Lat. 37° 8'4", Long. 58° 24/ 0"; Elev.
4,183' (Lemni).
A town in northern Khurasan, containing some 2,000 houses, inhab
ited by Zafaranlu Kurds, Turks, and Persians. Napier estimates the
population at 9,000. The town was in a ruinous condition in 1875,
from the effects of frequent earthquakes, which prevail in this district.
All the houses were of mud, and nearly all flat-roofed; though a new
kind of building is said to be built. It consists of a tent roof with
no walls, erected of poles tied to each other and to a ridge pole, the
ends buried in the earth, and the whole covered with a layer of earth.
There is a poor bazaar, with scarcely anything in it, beyond the ordinary
country produce; but a good number of copper pots and woollen stockings