The Qizilbash population of Herat during the siege of 1837-38 (Alexander Burnes, [1838] 1839)

The Qizilbash population of Herat during the siege of 1837-38

The garrison in Herat consists of about 10,000 men. The Vizier and his family muster 1500, and the dependents of Kamran about 200 more, 6000 Dooranees, and other Affghans have been removed from Farrah into the city, and besides these are 3000 foot, known by the name of “dou tulub.” These are also Affghans, and a description of troops first established by Ahmed Shah Dooranee. They were obliged to furnish a horseman for every pair of ploughs, but Kamran last year converted the levy into foot, fixing two individuals for each plough. It caused a great deal of dissatisfaction, but this, it is believed, is now removed. The Kuzzilbash or Sheah inhabitants have been either sold by the minister, or fled the country, with the exception of about 1200 families, who have been removed to a place called Jakera, outside the city, to prevent treason. Many of the Soonee residents have been also sold, but the rest remain. Provisions have been plentifully stored, and to this time the city cannot be correctly said to be besieged, since two of its gates are open. There are but 10 guns in Herat, and none of any caliber. The strength of the place consists more in its position, than garrison. In 1833, when the present Shah of Persia, then Mahomed Mirza, attacked Herat, the operations were interrupted by the death of Abbas Mirza, and the Persians made a disastrous retreat to Tehran.

(Signed) A. BURNES

On a Mission to Cabool.

Cabool, 7^th February, 1838

(True Copy)

H. TORRENS,

Deputy Secretary to Government of India, with the Governor General.

Reports and Papers, Political, Geographical, & Commercial Submitted to Government by Alexander Burnes, Lieutenant Leech, Doctor Lord, and Lieutenant Wood, Employed on Missions in the Years 1835-36-37 in Scinde, Affghanisthan, and Adjacent Countries. — Calcutta: G.H. Huttmann, Bengal Military Orphan Press, 1839, p. 39.