The sketch about Afshars
The
sketch given by an Affshar chief of his own family throws some light on their
customs: — “My father had two brothers, one older the other younger than
himself. These four young men you see there are grandsons of my eldest uncle,
who was head of the family, — their oldest brother commands a troop of horse,
all of the tribe of Affshar, with the king, — and this is my cousin, the son of
my younger uncle. My family consists of six children, all except one by the
same mother, my wife, daughter of Futeh Ali Khan Affshar, a famous chief, who
on the death of Nadir Shah (who you know was of our tribe) aspired to the
throne. My good father-in-law, however, lost his life in attempting to become a
king, and I married his orphan daughter, an excellent woman, but who carries
her head rather high, as no doubt she has a right to do, from recollection of
her father’s pretensions. Look,” said he softly, for the interior apartments
were within earshot, “look at that youngster at the other end of the room: he
is my son. His mother was the daughter of a jeweler at Ispahan, an uncommonly
pretty girl. He is a fine lad, but I dare hardly notice him; and he is, you
observe, not allowed to sit within ten yards of the grandsons of Futeh Ali Khan
Affshar. This is all very proper,” he added; “it is attention to the dam as
well as the sire that keeps the breed good. Besides, the influence of females
amongst us Eeliauts is very great, and if we did not treat them with respect
matters would not be long right… My father and his brothers lived together,”
continued he, “and we do the same. Our inheritance was equal, and each of the
three branches is charged a day’s expenditure successively. Entertainments and
imposts are paid in equal shares. We seek by intermarriages to strengthen those
ties, which are our only defence against oppression and destruction. We are
Turks,” he concluded, laughing, “and, consequently, you may suppose, have often
violent quarrels; but the necessity of our condition soon reconciles us again,
and we are at present, and will I hope long continue, a united family.”
J.B. Fraser — An historical and descriptive account of
Persia (1834)
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