"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد I" [و‎‎٣‎٤‎٧] (٨٢٠/٧١٤)

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many large villages, and much cultivation. To the east of this, at the f oat
of the outer spurs from the Khush Yailaq, is a tract known as Julge
i-Mawhz-u-Gilan, which is dry and arid, with little water. The sub-divisions
of this district are—
1. Kuh Paleh, with Bustam and 33 villages, consisting of all the country
in the higher pass of the hills in the north.
2. Zirustak, with Shahrud and 20 villages, comprising the west portion.
3. BIrjumand, with 10 villages, the tract lying between the upper
part of the Bustam valley and the desert.
4. Khur-u-Turan, with 2 villages, east of BIrjumand, a desert trad.
5. Turud, with 7 villages, _
6. Faiiumad-Fiiu/abad, with 7 villages, a small hilly tract lying acrcsa
the Kalshiar, on the borders of Juvain and Sabzawar.
7. Kalateh, with 8 villages.
8. Armian, with 8 villages.
9. Kalateh-i-Khij, with 2 villages.
The inhabitants of this district are designated 'Arab-u-’Ajam, ’Arabs and
Persians; though there is a small proportion
Inhabitants. rp ur p St fi rs t are the descendants of
the ’Arab conquerors ; but the three races have now fused so completely
that they are indistinguishable in feature and language. There are^ said
to be 4,000 families of ’Arab extraction resident in this district. They
are chiefly of the Anuri tribe ; the remainder of 12,000 tents brought
from Arabia during the Bam ’Abbas Kin Mat; now they live in houses
and talk Persian.
The population of this vast district is estimated at only 30,000 or 32,000
souls, exclusive of Nardin, which may have 2,000
Population. more.
The district furnishes to the Shah’s army a regiment of infantry, who
receive from 8 to 10. tumans each (£U to £2>
Troops ‘ yearly. They are esteemed among the best of
the royal troops, and are known by the name of the Lashkar-i-’Arab-u- Ajam
(’Arab and Persian army). This is one of the finest regiments in the Persian
army and is celebrated for its valour.
The district also furnishes to the Persian Government about 200
irregular cavalry and a few tufangchis.
The force maintained numbers about 1,000 infantry, 200 cavalry, and
3 guns.
Some salt is found in the district. There is much cultivation, mainly-
fruit-gardens and vineyards, and more cotton
Production. an( j s qp ra i sec i i n Shahrud-Bustam than else
where ; but food grains cultivated are only sufficient for local consumption.
Shahrud-Bustam can supply 7,000 camels, 200 mules and ponies, 5,000
Transport available. donkeys and 150,000 Indian maunds of grain.
' About 60,000 pilgrims pass through the-
ilgrim tra c. district yearly for Meshed.
Formerly Bustam was the last dependency of the district of Kumis on
the east.
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