The Turks of Khorasan
Turks. ― After the Persians
apparently the oldest population of Khurasan are the different Turkish tribes
which inhabit its northern extremity. In all probability they are remnants of
many successive “waves” of the invaders from Turkistan which have passed since
the tenth century; there have been also many local migrations. There are many
dialects spoken at present, that are distinct from the Turkmani and from the
Azerbaijani Turkish. It is remarkable that in a single village in some cases
one half speaks a different dialect from the other half. Khafr is such a
village, some 16 miles east of Nishapur, at the entrance to the Jagharq pass.
It is regrettable that Turkologists have so far entirely neglected Persia, in
which the Turkish population, on account of its isolation, preserves more
variety in their linguistics than anywhere.
There
are comparatively few Turkish nomads in Khurasan. Usually their villages are
flourishing and show considerable prosperity. There are also half-nomads,
especially where large flocks are kept.
As
everywhere, the Turks in Khurasan present more signs of degeneration than Kurds
or Persian peasants. Physically they are inferior to both. The majority have a
microcephalic head-form, are middle sized, having sharp facial angles and
irregular features. Mentally they are also inferior to Kurds and Persians, being
not so intelligent. They are quarrelsome, irascible and nervous, while the
majority of the local brigands and criminals are supplied by them. Opium
smoking and disease are very common amongst them.
The
dissection into subdivisions is unreliable, many families claiming an
improbable ancient descent from noble houses. It may appear as if Khurasan is
inhabited only by emigrants from Syria and Western countries. There are Bayatis
in the northern part of the Nishapur district, Bayandars, etc., who claim kinship
with the famous tribes of Azerbaijan. The most numerous are the Bughiris in
Bam, Safiabad, Juwain, and Isfarain. Another tribe of great size is the
Qarailis or Garilis, who live in all the northern districts. The most southern
tribe, that of the Qarais, who inhabit a part of the district of
Turbat-i-Haidari and Gunabad, have become at present almost entirely
assimilated with Persians.
W. Ivanov — Notes on the Ethnology of Khurasan (1926)
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