‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎321r] (648/722)

dwellers. They first came to Garmsel from Baluchistan at the time that Shah
Ahmad established the Dm’ani power. At this period they annually
frequented the left bank of the Helmand between Malakhan and Rudbar under
their chief Abdulla Khan. This tract, belonged to the Nurzai Afghans; but,
having been some years previously devastated by Nadir Shah, was at the time
of the Baluch occupation a deserted waste, as it is still at the present day; for
the Baluch were mere robber nomads, who lived here with their camels and
hocks for six or eight months of the year only, in temporary booths, or huts
made of wicker frames of tamarisk, called ‘ palas/ Abdulla Khan appears
to have been on good terms with the Nurzais ; but his second successor,
Jan Beg, was constantly at feud with them. He was a noted robber, and
for many years intercepted the communication between Kandahar and
Sistan rid Gai'msel. In his time the Sangurani and their subjects, the
Tanki Baluch, extended their wanderings along the banks of the Helmand
as far as the Chakansur district. Here they took a greater or less part
in the struggles at that time going on between the local chiefs of Sistan,
and thus came to acquire a sort of position in the country, and changed their
migratory life for one in fixed habitations. This they were the more easily
enabled to effect, owing to the employment of the Nurzais in the struggle
then going on between Taimur’s sons for the possession of the throne, and their
consequent inability to protect their tribal lands from encroachment.
The Sangurani chiefs being Sunnis, their tendency is towards the Afghans.
The Sanguranis of Sistan are now a very important tribe, both as regards
their infiuenee and their numbers. In their politics they always side
with the Kandahar Chief; but within their own limits they are independent.
The deputation by Ibrahim Khan of his son Khan Jahan to the court of
Shir Ali Khan was the first outward sign made of the allegiance of the
Baluch to the throne of Kabul.
The Sangurani and their Tanki subjects, amongst whom are several
Tokhi, Tarakhi, and other Ghilzai families, remnants of the^ invaders^ of
Persia under Mir Muhammad, occupy the villages of Chakansur, Khash,
Kaddah, Jahanabad, Nadali, Tiflak, Rudbar, Chaharbujak, Bandar Kamal
Khan, Khairabad, Ishkinak, Husainabad, Ilamdar, Khwaja Ahmad,
Nazir Khan, Agha Jan, and a few others, at the two first of which, as the
chief amongst the above villages, are also distributed several scattered fami
lies of Nurzai Afghans.— (Bellew.)
SARAB— Lat. , Long. ; Elev. 6,200'. ^
A poor village on the south-east border of Khurasan, 24 miles east of
Awaz and 33 from Gizik. It is inhabited by Bedouin Arabs, who still
speak Arabic.— [Stewart.)
SARADIK— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in the Tun subdivision of the Tabas district of Khurasan.
O
{Bellew.)
SARAI— Lat. , Long. ; Elev. '• ^
One of two villages of 30 houses forming the village of Rubat m the
Sarhad subdivision of the Shahrud-Biistan district on the Jajarm road.
{Napier.)
SARATTIN Lat Long. ; Elev.
A halting-place in Khurasan, U miles east of Baslmiyah on the road to
Kain, 41 miles distant. It is in the Tun subdivision of the Tabas distnc