'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎56r] (116/652)

loading guns mounted on old dilapidated field carriages, smothered in dust
and dirt; the remaining 5 were lying about the ground in the topMaweA.
There were also 30 artillerymen stationed in the ark.
In addition to the artillerymen the garrison consisted of one regiment,
nominally 500 strong, but most of the men are away at their houses for the
greater part of the year. The regiment is inspected once a year, when the
men muster. The men are clothed in ragged uniform, and are generally bare
footed. The rifles are antiquated and rusty muzzle-loaders.
To the west cf the town, at the end of the spur, is situated a fort which
is a much more respectable work. It is a square of about 100 yards, with
walls 40 feet high, built on the river-bank ; which is scarped to the north,
and the approach to it all round is difficult and steep. If put into good
repair, no doubt this place might offer a respectable resistance ; but there is
cover close up to it, and the walls and loopholes are in such a state that the
former could not be manned. The fort is also commanded by a hill at about
1,500 yards to the east, and is in ruins now.
The chief manufactures of Birjand are felts, carpets, and woollen fabrics,
copper vessels and leather-tanning. The carpets, for which the locality
has long been famous, are chiefly fabricated in the 'Village of Durukhsh
about 50 miles to the north-east of Birjand ; also at the villages Nauzad and
Sehdeh. These carpets, however, are now held in less esteem ; aniline dyes
being used, and cotton mixed with the wool of which they are manufactured.
Aniline dyes are now strictly forbidden and carpet manufacturers using
them are liable to punishment. Cotton is, however, mixed with the wool.
The carpets are very much in demand.
Traefe.—The chief trade of Birjand is with Khorasan and Russia, Bandar
Abbas and Kirman. Trade with Afghanistan has been practically killed by
Persian Custcms (Belgians), and is now a negligible quantity. British
trade with Birjand is now said to be nearly equal, if not quite so, to Russian
trade. This is probably due to the disturbed condition of Russia. In 1904-
05 the total imports and exports amounted to 1,419 and 1,789 camel
loads, valued respectively at 3,05,990 and 2,68,125 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . This was,
however, a bad year, owing to a cholera epidemic and all travellers coming
from Khorasan or Yazd were stopped and turned back, while the people of
Birjand deserted the town in lage numbers and sought asylum in the hill
villages off the main routes. The chief imports are shirtings (nearly all cotton
fabrics are British or European, imported by way of Bandar Abbas), indigo,
longcloth, chintz, spices, sugar and petroleum, while the exports are carpets,
barak, and kurk (a species of cloth), wool, saffron, and dried fruits. Of late years
the trade with Afghanistan had declined considerably owing to the harsh man
ner in which customs collection at Sarakhs, Duruh, and Ahwaz were car
ried out. The consequence is that Afghans are now generally employing the
routes that lead through Turbat-i-Haidari.
Birjand is of great antiquity, and though much decayed, is still a place of
considerable importance, and on account of its greater proximity to Slstan and
the Afghan frontier has supplanted Kaln as the seat of Government of the Kai-
nat. Since the days of Nadir Shah up to the time of Yar Muhammad’s death
in 1871, Birjand was a dependency of Herat.