'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎235v] (475/652)

462
PAR-PAR
As in Sarbaz proper, the chief feature of the district is the Barfcaz riv6i
which runs from Diphur (q.v.) in a general south-easterly direction, till it
emerges from the hills below Rask. In this part of its course its bed is
wider than above, in Sarbaz proper, and is much more stony with less
water running. The hills also are lower, and stand further back from the
river, forming a valley in contradistinction to the defiles above. The river
winds from side to side through patches of cultivation and palm groves.
Five or six villages lie along the banks above Parud itself. Of these we
have the names of Ghafar Khan {q.v.) and Tejak. Below are other hamlets
and the considerable villages of Firuzabad and Rask, all with cultivation
and groves of date palm.
Parud village is described as a strange looking place situated on a high
bluff on the left bank of the river, which seems here to terminate, as it
makes a detour at right angles to the left (east), and the two banks merge
as it were into one to the eye of the downward traveller. Euan-Smith
thinks it is probably from this appearance that the place received its name.
A broad watercourse from the west joins the Sarbaz at the angle above
mentioned. Euan-Smith says it comes from Qasrqand, but this is of
course a misapprehension. According to the map it would seem to origi 1 *
nate in the “ Sagar Kuh,” a large hill conspicuously marked among the
lesser ranges, about 20 miles west-north “West of Parud and 11 or 12 miles
west-south-west of Diphur.
The village consists of the usual ruined mud fort and about 80 mud
huts, with a poor population. The road from Sarbaz winds up from the
river-bed through the village on to a stony plateau, where the camp ol
Sir F. Goldsmid’s mission was pitched in 1871. Its elevation is probably
about 2,200 feet.
"The people all about seemed to have a great fear of Ibrahim Khan,
who was as much hated as feared, and whose rule was by no means firmly
established. They stated that when their revenue was not made up he
took a girl or two and sold them as slaves: and we heard that in these parts
the price of a young man of about 25 was 12 tumans"
Parud village is 26 miles from Sarbaz, with an intermediate halt at
Diphur, 12 miles. Pishin is about 39 miles (three stages): and Bahfil
Kalat on the Chahbar road, dividing from that to Pishin at Rask, is
about 5 stages, or 60 miles. Rask is 14 miles down the river, passing
Firuzabad {q.v.) at about 9 miles. Haji ’Abdul Nabi followed a direct road
from Qasrqand to Parud, distance about 40 miles, halting midway at
Ushaf {q.v), which may be conjectured to be near the source of the water
course above mentioned as entering Sarbaz from the west.
Next to nothing is known of this history of Parud. It has certainly
been in Persian possession, along with Sarbaz, since 1850. Haji ’Abdul
Nabi, who visited it in 1839, says that twenty years before, a Persian detach
ment succeeded in levying 700 ducats (Rs. 3 ; 850) “ by means of a gun they
rad with them.” In 1839 the chief was Mulla Miah, Bulidi. His revenue
vas 30 ducats (Rs. 165) and 2,000 maunds of grain. But the maund is
probably the local man of 3J lb to 4 lb. The rate at which the revenue in
kind was levied varied from one-tenth to one-fifth and even one-third of
the produce. It was considered so oppressive that most of the cultivators