TURK TRIBES.—The Afshar tribe is one of the Kazzilbash, spread over Kirman, Fars, Luristan, and Khuzistau, in great numbers at Abiverd, and round the lake of Urumia. They are said to be of Turk origin, and to speak a Turki tongue. Their two sections are Shamlu and Karklu, and they number 20,000 families. They were one of the seven Turkish tribes to whom Shah Ismail owed much of his success, and whom he desig nated Kazzilbash. Abiverd was the birthplace of Nadir Shah, who was of this Karklu branch.
Layard says the Gunduzlu, a Turk tribe of Khuzistan, have 1500 fighting men. It is a branch or clan of the Afehar tribe. Nadir Shah found them occupying the plains of Khuzistau to the foot of the great chain of mountains, and also in the country now held by the Cha'ab Arabs. They were sufficiently powerful to restrict the Bakhtiari to the mountains. Nadir Shah deported them to the north of Persia, but they returned to Khuzi sten on his death. The Gunduzlu Turk in winter reside near Boleti, and in summer and autumn on the Ab-i-Gargar.
The Baharlu is one of the Kazzilbash Turkish tribes whom Shah Ismail brought from Syria. They have 2000 houses in Azarbijan. The other Knzzilbash tribes were the Ustajulu, Chamlu, Nikalu, and Zu-ul-Kadar, but whether any of them now remain is not known.
Chardaoria tribe from Luristan and the Afehar occupy Sam Kola in Azarbijan.
Kasuin is a town in Irak-i-Ajam, 97 miles from Teheran. Its inhabitants amount to about 25,000 souls. They are chiefly descendants of the Turk tribes who have long pastured their flocks and herds in the neighbourhood. They are hardy and robust, but rude and ungovernable.
Kara Papa is a Turk tribe of several hundred families, in the Solduz district of Azarbijan. They were settled in Georgia until A.D. 1826, and on war breaking out between Persia and Russia they moved into Solduz district, and Abbas Mirza gave them lands on military tenure. They found the occupants of the country chiefly Kurds, with a few Mokaddam Turk. They are prosperous. They have a high reputation for valour, and are skilful horsemen.
The Khuzistan province, in the extreme S.W. corner of Persia, has on its south the province of Fars and the Persian Gulf. Its population consists of nomade tribes, dwelling in tents, pastoral and agricultural. In its northern part are Feili, Bakh
tiari, Kohgelu, and ldamaseni ; in its south are the Arab tribes Anafijah, Ali Kathir, Cha'ab, and Beni Lam. The Dinaruni and their subdivisions dwell in Khuzistan. The Dinaruni are predatory, ignorant, and barbarous, and can muster 3000 men.. They are overawed by the I3akhtiari.
The Feili, Bakhtiari, Kohgelu, and Mama.seni occupy also Luristan, where the Feili have two sections, the Pesh Koh and Pusht•i-Koh, cis montane and trans-montane as regards the Zagros chain. The'Pesh Koh are notoriously predatory, and single travellers and caravans cannot travel in safety. They are a branch of the Ali Lehi Muhammadans, holding to many local supersti tions. The Feili pretend to have more respect for an oath than the Bakhtiari, and to be leas blood thirsty, but there is little difference between them. The Silah Silah section of the Feili Lur are of similar bad character.
The Bakhtiari are a large, martial, valorous tribe, who occupy the mountains, and move to summer and winter quarters. They have a tra dition that they came originally from Syria. The Hail Lang and Char Lang are their two sections, between which from time immemorial there has been the greatest enmity, and when they ap proach, blood is spilt. They can muster 6000 cavalry and 13,000 infantry. They have a national dance called chapi, and they have rejoicings over their dead, especially over those who fall in battle. Nadir Shah took a number of them into his army. The Janeki are the chief branch of the Char Lang. The Bakhtiari have been supposed to have given the mine to Bactria.
The Binduni are a small tribe dwelling amongst the Bakhtiari.
Thellialak-llfadi tribe of Bakhtiari accompanied Nadir Shah against Herat.
The Alaki, a branch of the Haft Lang, make their summer quarters in the mountains near Teheran, and in winter go to the sea-coast near 13ushahr.
The Kohgelu inhabit the mountains at the source of the Jarahi river, between lat. 50° and 51°. They adjoin the Bakhtiari, and are the same in language, manners, customs, character, and religion, but they consider themselves different ; they are under the Behbehan governor, whilst the Bakhtiari are under that of Shiraz. They have about 20 clans, with 15,500 families.