'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎56v] (117/706)

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BILBA
BILBA—
f
The name of a tribe, which inhabits the district of Lahijan in the province
of Azarbaijan, for which they pay rent to the Mikrls, of which tribe they
are believed to be a branch. The Bilbas roam about the frontiers of Persia
and Turkey, transferring their allegiance from one Government to the
other as expediency suggests, until it is difficult to say among the sub
jects of which nation they ought properly to be included. About 80 years
ago they rose to such power that they were alike a terror to the Afshars,
the Mikris, and the Muqaddams. The MikrI country they had entirely
overrun, and it was not until Ahmad Khan, of Maragheh, the famous
Muqaddam chief, invited all the leaders of the tribe to a great banquet
where he murdered 300 of them in cold blood, that the South of Azar
baijan recovered its tranquillity. For some years after this they were
hunted from the face of the country like wild animals, and were obliged
to take refuge within the Turkish frontier, where the Mir of Ruwandiz
found them, when he rose to power, and by again slaughtering their most
distinguished chiefs brought them under some order and obedience. Since
the removal of the Mir, they have partly relapsed into their old predatory
habits, and are now regarded as the most treacherous and turbulent of all
the border tribes of Kurdistan. Their power is so broken that at the pre
sent day they cannot pretend to meet the Mikris in open combat; bub
still, to prevent their depredations and retain them in some sort of vassal-
age that tribe has been content to relinquish to them the rich district of
Lahijan, where parts of the two divisions of Mangur and Mamish are now
settled, gradually adopting agricultural pursuits and passing from a
nomadic to a settled life. The third great division, which indeed includes
nearly half the whole tribe, is named Piran. • These, with the remainder
of the Mangur and Mamish, still adhere to a wandering life, pasturing
their flocks in summer upon the Persian frontier along the skirts of the
mountains from Sardasht to Ushnu and retiring on the approach of win
ter far. within the Turkish line, to the warm pastures of Baitush and Gar-
migan on the banks of the Lesser Zab. They number about 5,000 fami
lies, but they can bring even a larger number of horsemen into the field ;
every Bilba is provided with his horse and his spear. Firearms are used
by the Bilbas in all their mountain warfare, and their matchlockmen are
excellent marksmen, their assistance being eagerly courted by the Kur
distan chiefs in their struggles among each other, or for a foray on the
plains.
The Bilbas comprise the
Piran.
Mokhaneh.
Barcham.
Morik.
Yusaf Khalikah.
Sabrama.
Sata.
Wastapira.
W armazlyar.
following divisions :—
Mangur.
Kadirvaisi.
Zudi.
Rasgai.
Babrasa.
Marnakana.
Mamish.
Hamzeh Aghai.
Marbuk.
Jokhur.
Bala wand.
Marbabakra.
Fakehwatmanah.
Sinn.
Ranik.