‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎324v] (655/722)

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defeat and expulsion from these points have been mentioned. They have
now much decreased in numbers and importance.
They still count 10,000 tents, and hold the whole line of the Murghab from
Yulatan, 30 miles from Marv, to the borders of Maimana, where they touch the
pastures of the Firuz-Kuhi Aimaks. Their principal locations are Yulatan
Panjdih, 35 to 40 miles higher up, and Bala Murghab, where the old high
road crosses the river. Karim Yardi Ishan, of Yulatan, son of the old
Khalifa of Marv, whose influence over the Saruk, then the most powerful
tribe of the eastern steppe, was unbounded, is their leader, and is said
to have the tribe in his hands. All negotiations of the Saruk with their
neighbours are carried on entirely by him ; and he would have power, if not
to bind the tribe by his engagements, at least to bring them to accept his
views. With the Tekke the Saruk were before on good terms; and it may
be assumed that they would aid them in the event of an invasion. The bond
of union is formed of the class of mullas, or ishan, who pass from one
tribe to another, and would certainly in the opinion of competent authorities
bring about a union against a Russian or Persian invasion. Since the
defeat of the Persians at Marv, the Saruk have entirely dropped their con
nection with them. ^ Up to 1874 they raided indefatigably on the borders
of Mashhad and Kaian, and have rejected all attempts of the Persians to
renew the alliance.
With the Herat ruler the tribe has been for some time on terms of friend
ship, the body of Turkumans mentioned as having offered their services to
Muhammad Aydb Khan having doubtless belonged to this tribe. One of
their chiefs, a noted allamani, or robber-leader, Twair Khan, was in the
pay and service of the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , and could at any time have brought a body
of 3,000 or 4,000 Sarabad Salor horse to his standard.— (Napier, Stewart.)
SARZAR— Lat. 35° 49' 0", Long. 59° 25' 30'''; Elev. ' (St. John).
A fortified village in Khurasan, 35 miles south of Mashhad. It is sur
rounded by gardens and trees, but suffered much at one time from Turku-
man raids.— (Belleiv, Goldsmid.)
S AUDADI- —Lat. , Long. ; Elev
A village in Khurasan, 28 miles from Sultanabad (Turshiz), on the road to
Tun. It is situated on the border of the Kavfr, and contains 100 houses,
with some supplies.— (MacGregor.)
SAVALDI-— Lat. 37° 44' 0", Long. 57° 46' 0"; Elev.
A village in northern Khurasan, 25 miles north west of Shivvtin.—(Intelli
gence Department, War Office.)
SAVtJR—L at. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in south-eastern Khurasan, north-by-east of a hill above Euro-
about 4 miles distant.— (MacGregor.)
SAWAS—-Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in Khurasan, on or near to the Shahrud-Mashhad road. It lies
on the edge of the desert, and is watered by a fine kanat.— (Napier.)
SAWAR— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A camping-ground in a glen in Khurasan, about 53 miles from Shahrud, on
the road to Astarabad, and 1 mile from the Mfl-i-Radkan. A road from
Chashma-i-Ah, distant 26^ miles, joins at the gorge of the Men. The °’len
has a width of about 2 miles, and is watered by the Asp-wa-Mza stream.
The wide marshy plain is enclosed by mountains clad with forests of oak and