The Darashurlu tribe of Qashqais (Captain A. J. Christian, 1919)

The Darashuris

Origin. — This tribe originally migrated from Turkestan and settled in the Buluk of Garmabad in the “Darashur” valley. Hence their name.

Strength. — In point of view of strength and tribal wealth the Darashuris are the first of the Qashgai tribes. They number 5-6,000 families and can raise about 3,000 sowars and 2,000 footmen. Their sowars are renowned for their mobility.

Fighting strength and qualities. — This tribe can raise a maximum of 3,000 sowars and 2,000 footmen and would probably reach this figure should their tribal existence be threatened. The Ilkhani, however, can only rely upon levying 1,500—2,000 fighting men from them.

The Darashuri sowars is renowned for his prowess and mobility. Their horses are of a good stamp, will travel fast ever rough country and are accustomed to pick up a living from the country they are passing through.

[See also paragraph (f), page 21.]

Chiefs. —  The present chief of the Darashuris is Aiyaz Kikha. He was actively hostile to the British during the fighting near Shiraz in 1918. He was not present with the section of his tribe which attacked Khaneh Zinian post but on arrival, after the attack, sent insolent letters to the Officer Commanding the post. He was hostile to the new regime until the 10^th October 1918 when he submitted to Ali Khan, Ilbegi.

The following is a table of the Darashuri ruling Khans: —

Haji Ali Panah Kikha
Haji Baba		Kazim Kikha	Agha Kikha
Gudarz Kikha	Aiyaz Kikha	Ali Panah Kikha	Vali Khan Kikha (died 1918)	Nasrullah Khan	Ahmad Khan

Ali Panah Kikha assists Aiyaz Kikha in the Governorship of the tribe but they are not always on the best of terms.

“For a short time Soulat-ed-Dowleh made Ali Panah Kikha Kalantar of the Darashuris, and deposed Aiyaz Kikha, but in 1911 Aiyaz Kikha threw in his lot with Soulat-ed-Dowleh, took the bulk of his large clan to the Soulat’s winter quarters in Qir-o-Karzin and in the spring of 1912 fought for the ex Ilkhani against Zaigham and other clans.”

Habitat. — The Darashuri garmsir is east and south-west of Behbehan and their sarhad in Vardasht and Garmabad (near Simarum).

Migration. — The Darashuri migration from garmsir to sarhad is viâ Sar Abnaniz, Marg, Shapur, the Kazerun district, thence viâ the Shahi road to Khaneh Zinian, to Kudian, Haftbarm, Tang-i-Kullar, Baiza, Kamfiruz, Dez Kurd, Khosrow Shirin, Hannah, Simarum, Garmabad and Vardasht. This route may vary slightly from year to year according to grazing facilities.

According to a Qashgai informant the Darashuri should arrive in the Sarhad about the 16^th May. The last of the tribe does not leave the garmsir until the “Shatvi” crops have been harvested, i.e., about 30 days after Nauruz (21^st March). These crops sown on arrival in the garmsir at the beginning of the winter.

Tribal Produce. — The usual tribal rugs, gheleems and “jajims” (a kind of rough blanket) are woven and ghi, cheese, etc., are produced.

Sub-tribes. — The following table shows the sub-tribes of the Darashuri as given by one of their own Kalantars: —

Sub-tribes of the Darashuri

Sub-tribe	Kadkhoda	Families
Amaleh	Aiyaz Kikha	400
Janbazlu	Haidar Agha	200
Narrehi	Abul Fath Agha	400
Karimlu	Gangal Agha and Agha Khan Beg	400
Haji Mohammadlu	Mohammad Ali Beg and Shukr Agha	200
Ashurlu	Qurban Ali Beg	100
Arablu	Abul Fath Agha	200
Ali Mardanlu	Ditto	50
Qarrekhlu	Ditto	100
Jairanlu	Ditto	50
Aiyublu	Ditto	30
Charukhlu	Haidar Agha	50
Khairatlu	Zaman Agha	400
Qaraghanlu	Sarmast	300
Qarajulu	Amir Hamzeh	100
Kizemlu	Massih Khan	300
Dundulu	Najaf Quli Beg	300
Haji Davalu	Alibaz	400
Korbukush	Ali Dad Agha	100
Bulvardi	Farhad Agha	150
Gugjalu	Karawais	50
Naderlu	Salaiman Agha	200
Talabazlu	Ditto.	100
Abulkarlu	Faruj Agha	150
Imanlu	Shams Ali	100
Islamlu	Hatam Khan	50
Osmanlu	Mirza Mohammad	50
Shaki	Shir Khan	30
Chehardah Cherik	Ali Khan	100
Yakub Iskandarlu	Haidar Agha	50
Abul Suleimanlu	Ditto.	20
Ahengir	Mulla Wais Ali	250
Sahmdini	Fathullah Khan	100
Qassemlu	Khan Mirza	50
Qermeshi	Shir Zab Khan	100
Total		5,630

Captain A. J. Christian, A Report on the Tribes of Fars. — Simla, 1919, pp. 41—43.