‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎322r] (650/722)

597
SARBANDI—
This tribe, with the Shahnkis, anciently divided Sistan with the Kaianis, and
were at that time connected with the Brahms. All three were collectively
styled “ Nakhai/ J and are said to have come into the country with the
invasion of Jhangiz. They were driven out of the country, and scattered
hy Taimur. The Sarhandi at that time were located on the Kuh Lakshakh,
south of the Zawah hollow, and on the tract of country east of Itamrud.
They were transported by Taimur to Burujird, near Hamadan, and there
settled at Shahrwan and Sarband. In the time of Taimur’s son, Shah
Bukh, some of their families returned to Sistan ; but were lost among
the general population. The present tribe of Sarband was brought to
Sistan and settled in Sihkuha, and on the lands south of the Kuh Khoja,
by Nadir, about 140 years ago, under their then chief, Mir Kambar, who
established himself in the foot of Sihkuha, or the “ Three Hills.^ Mir
Kambar was succeeded by his son, Mir Kuchak; he by his grandson,
Muhammad Raza ; he by his son, Mir Khan, who was the Sarbandi chief
in Sistan at the time of Shah Taimur’s death.
In the troubles then falling upon Afghanistan, he became independent for
awhile; but on Yar Muhammad’s arrival in Sistan to bid for the throne, he
joined him with his contingent of troops. In home politics he allied with the
Sangurani Baluch, and in the struggles at this period distracting Afghanistan
sided with Kandahar. He took advantage of the dissensions in the Kaiani
family to annex much of their land and several villages. In this course he
was followed by his son and successor, Muhammad Raza. This chief was on
good terms with Kuhandil Khan of Kandahar ; but mostly maintained an
independent position in Sistan, of which he became the most powerful
chief. He was a party with Kuhandil in all the intrigues at that time
on foot with Persia ; and his brother, AH Khan, on KuhandiTs return from
Tihran in 1844, took service with him at Kandahar. Muhammad Raza died
in 1848, and was succeeded at Sihkuha by his son, Lutf Alh The chief
threw off the alliance with Kandahar and seized all Sfstan, including
the Baluch possession at Chakansur, for Yar Muhammad at Herat. The
Baluch, in alliance with the Sarbandi, had hitherto been dependents of
Kandahar in their relations beyond Sistan. On this revolt of Lutf Ah,
the Kandahar chief sent an army against him. He was captured and
deprived of sight, and his uncle, AH Khan, was established at Sihkuha as
Sarbandi chief in the interest of Kandahar.
Yar Muhammad now, in turn, marched against AH Khan, and to reestaD-
lish his own party in the country. He was seized with illness just as
he reached the Sistan frontier, and hurrying home, died two marches short
of Herat in 1851. After this AH Khan, disgusted with his uncertain posi
tion between the rival chiefs of Kandahar and Herat, and suspicious
of the intrigues of Kuhandil with the Persian court, himself sent an envoy
to the Shah, soliciting recognition in support as a Persian subject. His
messenger was received favourably, and the Persian hag and presents sent
in return. AH Khan at once hoisted the flag m his fort at Sihkuha, and
declared himself for Persia. The rest of his history has been given.
Since the Persian occupation of the country, the Sarbandi influence
in Sistan has disappeared, and the chief members of the ruling family
have been deported to Tihran, as prisoners and hostages. liny number
of the Sarbandi tribe now in Sistan are reduced to 10,000 families, inclusive
of their subjects, or dihkans. It is difficult to arrive at any approximation
to the true number of Sarbandi families, exclusive of their subjects,