'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎44r] (92/652)

The Bashakardls are, of course, nominally Musalmans, but the bonds of
their religion appear to sit lightly on them. Their women do not cover
their faces, and indeed they appear to enjoy much more liberty than the
females of other Muhammadan countries.
Owing partly to its remoteness from the central government, and partly
to its poverty, which is such that it is nobody’s interest to improve matters,
a state of lawlessness and quasi-independence exists among the chiefs of
Bashakard, which is probably unequalled in any other part of Persia. The
abundant water-supply, which might easily be turned to good account
for irrigation purposes, is allowed to run to waste, and cattle cannot be sent
to graze at any distance from their villages without an armed escort.
Amongst such a people and in such circumstances industry of any kind
is, needless to say, non-existent, and agriculture only of the most primitive
character. The inhabitants herd a few flocks of sheep and goats, and
depend on their date crops, and a few badly-cultivated patches of Indian-
corn and wheat, for a hand-to-mouth livelihood.
This low state of civilization is due, no doubt, largely to the charac
ter of the people themselves and to the strong strain of negro blood,
apparently of a very low type, with which they are tainted, but probably
no less to the neglect of the central authority ; and as long as this neglect
continues, or until the country comes under a more beneficent govern
ment, there does not appear to be much likelihood of its rising in the scale.
— (Galindo, 1888 ; Massy and Medley, 1893 ; Sykes, 1902.)
BASHIB—
Bashib, the road from Jashk to this village, crosses the rivers Marik and
Tararqand, and passes three villages, one about 13th mile, the second about
15th mile, and third 17th mile. They are surrounded by date trees and
situated about a mile from the sea. The village of Bashib is inhabited
by Baluchis, and there are a few huts also scattered over the ground. There
is a small bit of ground cultivated with wheat, and the water is good from
the spring. Other supplies are very scarce— (Shaikh Mohi-ud-Din,
1893-94.)
BASHUR—
A plain in Makran, some 5 miles wide, 7 miles from Pish Mant, on the
Chahbar-Geh road. It is composed of whitish clay intersected hyndlds.
On it lies Chah Shur, a salt well.— (Sykes ; Brazier-Creagh, 1893.)
BASlDU—
A British station situated on the westernmost point of Qishm Island,
about 25 miles east by north of Lingeh town: there is also an Arab village
of the same name about 1 mile to the eastward.
Basidupoint is a low cliff, rising 20 feet above high-water mark, and is
level with a few date-trees: it is an airy position open to all the winds that
blow. The station was practically unoccupied, from the time when the
Indian naval squadron was abolished, until 1910, in which year it was re
opened as a coaling station in connection with the suppression of the
maseat arms-traffic. The former officers’ quarters, hospital, sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. lines, bazar,