'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎41v] (87/706)

70
AZARBAIJAN
the smuggling, of the border Turks or petty raids by the Kurds. A Russian
officer meets a Persian official every year at some frontier village in Kara
Dagh and then proceeds towards the frontier of Makfl, where he meets
a member of the chief’s family. Frontier disputes are then talked over
and settled: the arrangement seems to work satisfactorily. On the
Turkish border affairs are not so well ordered. Here the chiefs of Maku,
Awaiik and Kara Aineh are the guardians of the frontier. Their policy
has always been, and still is, to push forward their outposts whenever an
opening may occur and so small aggressions are constantly taking place
from one side or the other. The Kurds also give much trouble, raiding
on both sides, and then seeking protection, wherever their interests are
best served. The frontier itself is fairly well-defined by the mountain
range ; but this does not deter the chiefs from moving their villages over
the border with a view to final claims based on present possession. The
Tehran authorities encourage the chiefs in this policy and also keep alive
the religious hate of the Shi’ah and Sunni on the border. Frontier officials
both Turkish and Persian, have been on the Bayazid border for the last 3
years, but not one case out of 400 has been settled.
There is a British Consul at Tabriz, the capital.
Communications.
The communications of Azarbaijan will be found fully detailed under
Routes in Persia. But it may be remarked that, notwithstanding its
mountainous character, the province is favoured by its situation between
the capital and Europe. m ^ _ ,rri-
R oa ds. I. The main road from Trebizond via Erzerum to lehran may
be called the chief artery, while Tabriz the capital is the heart of the system.
As it is unnecessary to describe the road in Turkish territory, it will be
sufficient if we describe it from Kizil Dizeh, a few miles across the frontier.
From Kizil Dfzeh to Khoi the road passes through the districts of Awa-
jik Chaldaran and Zohrabad, which are described under their respective
headings. The road crosses the frontier a few miles beyond Kizil _ Dizeh
and first touches Persian territory at Awajik. Between Zohrabad and
Dashlu Darreh is an extensive and richly cultivated valley, 9 miles long by
21 broad, occupied by many flourishing villages. This portion of the valley
is 2 fairly free from Kurd interference and is specially protected by the
governor of Kh5I. The road is excellent throughout. No special mention
need be made of the road from Dashlu Darreh to Khoi, except that the pass
is moderately easy for caravans, difficult for carts. The descent is by a
difficult ravine to the village of Dizeh, and carriages must make a detour
to the east into the hills. From Dizeh the road descends to the Khoi plain.
Two main routes run from Khoi to Tabriz, one by the north of lake Uru-
mleh the other bv Marand and Sufian. The former crosses the Masho Dagh
south-east of Kh 6 i valley. The latter proceeds by the valley of the Zilbir
Chai to Marand and thence across the mountains above Sufian. The route
by the lake is more generally used by caravans, as both supplies and safety
can be depended on, and it is well suited for both mule and camel trans
port. That bv Marand and Sufian is used in its entire length, but
from Khoi to Marand supplies are scarce and the road infested by the