ILIYAT are tribes in Persia and Khiva, some of whom are nomade, dwelling in tents, and others reside in towns. The word Iliyat is derived from Il, a Turki word signifying tribe, equivalent to the Arabic Kabilat, to which ant,' an Arabic ter mination of the plural, was added,—a combination not uncommon. The Iliyat tribes in Persia are mostly of Arab, Kurd, and Turkoman descent ; along with tribes from the Bakhtiara mountains, who are of a race totally distinct from the northern -hordes, and probably something more indigenous to the soil than any of the other wanderers, but all lead the same manner of life, and bear the common name of Iliyat, their pastoral habits little distinguishing them from the Bedouin Arab or the nomade Tartar. The subjects of the Persian empire therefore appear to consist of the stationary inhabitants of towns and cities, and the wandering dwellers in tents and temporary villages. The Iliyat comprise a very large portion of the population of the country, though their actual numbers are not well known. They are Mahomedans of the Sunni sect. of the best families in Persia are of Iliyat origin. The present royal family is of the Kajar tribe, a Turkish Il, which came into Persia with Timur. The principal Iliyat tribes are said by Morier and MacGregor to be—.
A (altar. Bayat. Kurd Melia Aimak. Fedi. Lek.
Arab. I Imam. Mama Senn!.
I 1ajiban. Kajar. Shah Seven.
113khdari. Khuda Bandi. I Shekagl.
Minch. Kurd.
Frazer mentions that .in his time 195,000 Iliyat families were tributary to Kliiva, viz. :— Yuma, . . . . 15,000 Kazak, . . . . 40,000 t:okIau, . . . 20,000 Ikdar, , 15,000 t %Haar, . . . 2,000 Sarokh, . . . 15,000 Kalpak, . . . 30,000 i Uzbek, . . . 40,000 The Chudar are said to have been brought from the farther borders of the Oxus by Muham mad Raltim Khan. In the 10th century, they are said to have comprised 500,000 families within the province of Fars alone. Although much inferior in numbers, many of the present Iliyat tribes are very considerable ; and since the destruction of Rai, and the decay of Isfahan, Shiraz, and all the other great cities throughout the empire, they constitute a principal source of population, and the best nursery of its soldiers. Some of their chiefs are men so powerful that the king attaches them to his court by honourable and lucrative employments, or detains them about his person as hostages for the loyalty and good conduct of their respective clans. 1Ve find them, as they were 800 years ago, unmixed with the Persians who inhabit cities ; retaining their pas toral and erratic habits, and using among them selves a dialect different from the language of the country, which, however, most of them can speak and understand. They are an independent and hardy race, inclined to hospitality. Two or three families in little groups, preparing or enjoying their simple meal by the roadside, or proceeding on their journey, the wife carrying one child, two or three others packed in baskets on an ass, which the husband drives before him, are usual pictures to be seen.
Iliyat tribes have each their own history. They change their places of encampment with the season and climate, going in the summer to the Ailak, or quarters where pasturage and water are to be found in abundance ; and when the cold of winter sets in, adjourning to the Kishlak or warmer region, in which their flocks and herds, as well as themselves, are better sheltered. The tribes adhere to their respective districts, but the distances that some of the tribes have to perform in their annual migrations are really wonderful. From the southern shores of Fars, the Kashgoi arrive in spring on the grazing grounds of Isfahan, where they are met by the wandering Bakbtiari from their warm pastures of Arabistan, near the head of the Persian Gulf. At the approach of winter both these tribes return to their respective Kishlak or Garm-sair. In each province of Persia there are two chiefs, elders, acknowledged by all the tribes who roam in that province. In their conduct and morals the Iliyat women are vastly superior to those of the towns and settlements. They are chaste and correct in their lives, and faithful to their husbands. They are Sunni Mahomedans, but are by no means particular in their religious observances, and are not ruled or influenced by the mania as townsmen are. They are all, in a greater or less degree, professional robbers,—some tribes living solely by rapine and plunder, and others resorting only occasionally to such means. They have largo flocks and herds, which they often augment by taking possession of their neighbours'. The civilised population hold them in great dread on this account. The 11-khani of Fars is the chief of the Kashgoi tribe.
The nomades breed camels, cattle, and horses, mules and asses. Their tents are made of goats' hair. Often on approaching an lliyat encamp ment, the stranger is met by the women of the tribe, who burn aromatic herbs in honour of the guest, and as a token that he is welcome to their hearth. Mr. I3ickmer observed a similar practice among the Kuldi in Kurdistan. This custom must be very ancient, for we find Fardusi allud ing to it in his descriptions of the early heroic ages of Iran.
The usual drink of the Luristan Iliyat consists of buttermilk weakened with water ; a little salt is added to it, and it is then called Ab-i-dhung. It is generally sour. There is nothing so effica cious for the purpose of slaking thirst on a hot summer's day as this ab - i - dhung.—De Bode's 7'rarels; Ouseley's Travels; Rich's Kurdistan; Frazer's Travels; Morier; MacGregor.