"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [و‎‎١‎٧‎٩] (٧٢٢/٣٦٢)

i?i han * X re i a ^ 1 J e 1 Karimcl;td Kh an. They were given lands at
Mianabad, north of Nishapur. About 1,000 of them were entertained as
border guards, and received a pay, rather irregularly doled out, of 4
tumans per mensem. They are well armed and mounted and serviceable on
ordinary occasions; but their fidelity in the event of an Afghan invasion
is open to doubt.
A.bout half the Hazara horse are constantly emploved on the Afghan
border, under the sons of Yusuf Khan ; but they are also liable to be called
away to assist m the defence of the Bujnurd border against the Turku-
™ ans * 18 also a bod y of Taimuri horse under two chiefs. All
Murdan Khan and Ataulla Khan. The Taimuris have long been settled
m the Mashhad district, and furnish a body of 500 horse for employment
on the border. J
There is a colony of Jamshidis settled since the last siege of Herat at
Kanagusha near Mashhad. They have lands given them by the Persian
Government free of assessment ; and are paid regularly for their service.
But neither chiefs nor followers seem to be contented, loyal subjects. They
furnish 500 horse, and take their turn, according to the caprice of the
governor for the time being, with the Hazaras and Taimuris in guarding
the Persian border. They are equally well mounted and equipped with
the former.
In addition to these, the Khans of Chinaran, Itadkan, and Chulai can
furnish about 1,000 horse, Kurds and Turks, but not so well mounted and
equipped as the mercenaries, but probably more reliable. 200, or
perhaps 300, mounted men from other parts would make up the tale of
the available horsemen of the district.
The total of the irregulars that could be furnished by the district stands
thus:—
10,000 foot.
2,000 Aimak and Taimuri horse.
1,300 local horse.
13,300
This may appear a large proportion of so small an available population,
but sufficient exertion would, special obstacles and influences being barred,
no doubt raise that number. Almost every adult in such communities
is able-bodied, and all are more or less inured to danger and accustomed
to bear arms.
Every town and village in the district is provided with defences of
some sort; but these usually consist of a long thin curtain wall of mud,
with short circular projections for flanking defence—useless, save for
shelter from musketry fire. Many of the villages, especially to the north
of Mashhad, have a high raised mound popularly known as the sites of
the ‘ atashkadas,’ or fire-temples—large enough and high enough to
form a most efficient cavalier, and almost indestructible by direct fire.
Many of them have strong cells or chambers, that would serve as casemates.
Such positions, improved and combined with a somewhat better temporary
outer line of defence, would prove formidable obstacles to a force followed
by light guns only. The defences of Mashhad itself are more formidable
in appearance and less so in reality than those of the meanest villages in
the vicinity; for they are of great extent and the weakest possible construc
tion (for description, see article on Mashhad City).— {Napier.)