‘Report of a journey through Persia.’ [‎10v] (21/186)

8
Report of a Journey through Persia.
Political,
People.
The Governor of Bastak is a Sunni, of about 25 years of age, and
of preposessing manners. His name is Muntakki Khan ; he has visited
Bombay and has a very high opinion of the power of the British
Empire.
Fatte Ali Khan of Lar is a Shiah and has control over the Khan
of Bastak. They both hate each other, and in former times their an
cestors used to wage war against one another. A deadly hatred exists
between Shiahs and Sunnis and we might well rely on the assistance
of the latter if an occupation of the country became necessary. The
Khan of Bastak told me that he hoped we should come and take the
country, as then there would be freedom from the oppression of the
Shiahs. The Russian is never even mentioned in these parts.
The inhabitants are, generally speaking, a fine and hardy race of
mountaineers, naturally warlike. All possess firearms, which are either
old Tower muskets, or match-locks of native manufacture, these latter
being rather scarce. Swords are but little used ; men, both on horse
and on foot using firearms only. Lances are unknown. Robbery
seldom occurs in this district.
Three years ago, a man convicted of stealing a horse was bricked
up alive in a pillar on the roadside, inside of which his remains are
still visible. The district seems extremely well governed, and the
people also to be far more friendly to Englishmen than the Shiahs.
S ection 2. — B astak to Y ezd.
DecGmher 2 r jth^ iSSy, Leave Bastak and proceed up a gentle
incline towards a range of hills. The plain narrows as one progresses.
At miles a broad stony ravine is entered, and at 3I miles a small
caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and a bourkah are passed. Road, now stony, leads up the
valley winding about sometimes in and sometimes outside of a nullah,
which is very stony and steep in parts, where it twists about between
huge boulders and is quite impassable to guns. At 6 miles arrive on
the summit of saddle. Elevation about 2,450 feet. Here there is a
small caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). enclosed by a wall which commands the road ; it is
used by the Khan of Bastak as an outpost. A few men posted here
could hold the road against a large force advancing from the north
on B astak. The ground to either flank is steep and difficult of access.
The road now runs by a steep zig-zag descent into the ravine below
passing in its descent over flat rocks which are smooth and slippery!
At 6^ miles it becomes fairly level, but stony, being cut in the hill
side, a deep ravine on its right. At 8^ miles halt at a bourkah full
of good water; barren peaks all round. A road branches off on the
left to Lar. Road now down a valley between hills, which gradually
decrease in height and widen apart. At 9I miles the road leaves it