The Turkish tribes in
Mazandaran
There
are eleven great clans in Tunekabun, viz. Khalatberi, Gavi-Ussallu, or more
correctly Gavi-Hessarlu, Kalantarieh, Faki, Talesh Guleij, Daj, Assas, Shurej,
Talagani, and Rudbari. The chiefship of the district has been hereditary in the
family of the present Sepehdar-i-Azem since the end of the eighteenth century,
when Mehdi beg Khalatberi, who, together with Hajji Mohammed Ali Rudbari and
Aga Kazem Faki, went to Shiraz to complain of the oppression of the
Gavi-Ussallu governor, received from Kerim Khan Zend the title of Khan and the
governorship of Tunekaban. The yearly revenue derived by the Sepehdar-i-Azam
from his properties in the Mahal-i-Salaseh was estimated locally at 300,000
kharvars of rice and 20,000 mans of ghee.
The
Khojavends are divided into ten branches: Siahserani, Sharafvand, and
Shahsavend in Kajur; Garrussi, Kurdistani, Kakavand in Pul; and Sangzorali,
Malamiri, Kermanshahi, and Turk in Kelarestak. A small branch is called Sunni
and numbers one hundred families of the Sunni persuasion; but their chiefs have
become Shiahs. The majority of the tribe are Aliullahis and venerate Abdul Azim
Mirza of Kermanshah. The Leks inhabit Kelardasht and have four branches, Karak,
Dilfan, Turk, and Nanakali. These tribes, with the Abdul Malekis, were brought
from Ardalan and Garrus by Aga Mohammed Khan Kajar, to protect Tehran against
any rising of the inhabitants of these parts, then noted for their turbulence.
The
tribes, although now inhabiting villages, still move about in tents during the
hot season. They keep cattle, and raise a fairly good breed of horses. They
also cultivate the ground, most of their fields being “daimi,” i.e. not requiring artificial
irrigation. The “zaminkharaj” or land tax they pay is very small. A few
“jajims” and carpets are woven by the women. The Khojavends, as a whole, are
hated by the other inhabitants of these parts, not only on account of their
religion, but principally because they occupy the best “yailaks” of the
district.
Khorremabad,
the chief place of Tunekabun, is situated amongst rice fields in a green and
pleasant prairie about 5 or 6 miles from the foot of the nearest hills, 2 from
the Caspian, 8 from Zavar, and 16 from Abbasabad. It numbers about 250 houses
scattered through the thicket, has a telegraph station which connects it with
Resht, and a good brick caravanserai built recently by Amir Assad. The fine
gardens belonging to the late Saad-ed-Dowleh, the Sepehdar-i-Azam, and the Amir
Assad surround the Sabz Maidan on three sides. The Sepehdar’s garden has many
cypresses, orange, and lemon trees of numerous varieties. The port of
Khorremabad is Shahsowar, which has a customs officer under whose supervision
are the small ports of Abbasabad, Neshta, Chalkrud, and Shirud. A few Baku
merchants engaged in the rice trade reside here, and near the beach are a villa
and garden belonging to the Sepehdar. The Mazar, which is not navigable, only
affords shelter behind its bar to the few “kerejis” used in unloading the
steamers which anchor in the roadstead; it is formed by three streams, the
Valumrud, Do-Hezar, and She-Hezar. Salmon are plentiful.
In
addition to the aborigines of the province, there are many tribes scattered
over the country: Abdul-Malekis, Khojavends, Gerailis, Usanlus, Baluchis,
Afghans, and Kurds, who have been brought into Mazanderan at different periods
by various Persian monarchs, and who hold their lands by military service. They
have become so mingled with the country-folk that they cannot be distinguished
from them; apart from the Kurds and a few Turks, they have altogether forgotten
their original languages, and they are now Mazanderanis to all intents and
purposes.
The
Abdul-Malekis were at first settled at Darehgez; they were then removed to
Shiraz, and thence to Shahryar, where they remained three years. Aga Mohammed
Khan transplanted them to Nur, where they were settled for forty years. They
then left their country for their country’s good, and were transplanted by
Mirza Aga Khan Nuri Sadr Azam, about 1855, to Zaghmarz near Sari. They speak
Kurdish, are Shiahs, and furnish 100 irregular cavalry to Government when
called upon to do so. The Khojavends came originally from Luristan and
Kurdistan. Not only have they, like the Abdul Malekis, preserved the Kurdish
language, but they also still adhere to the Aliullahi tenets. The Gerailis were
brought from Kalpush by Aga Mohammed Khan, and are found in Anderud, Miandorud,
Karatagan, and Aliabad. They are a Turkish race, as well as the Usanlus. The Usanlus
were imported by Aga Mohammed Khan. They numbered 150 families in Sari, and
many others in the villages, but are now dispersed. The few Baluchis numbered
30 or 40 families settled in Sari, but none are now found.
The
Kurdish tribes of Janbeglu and Mudanlu inhabited the villages of Shirkhast,
Mianrud, and Ferahabad. I could obtain no information about them. An important
Turkish tribe is that of Imranlu, settled in Galuga. It has two great
divisions: (1) Imranlu, subdivided into Malek Mahmudi, Mahmud Janneh, Izhaklu,
Kallehsari, and Seyyedamli. (2) Kupchi, subdivided into Khadamli, Majirli,
Amirkhanli, and Ispendarli. They number about 600 families, and furnish 50
irregular cavalry to Government. A few Arabs were also brought to Eastern
Mazanderan, who introduced buffaloes into Mazanderan and Astarabad.
H. L. Rabino — A Journey in Mazanderan (From Resht to
Sari) (1913)
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