'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎133r] (270/706)

Burton and Vaughan through the adjoining country in 1897, and was of
great assistance in compiling the Gazetteer and in acquiring information
in these parts. A large number of willow trees. A. large fruit garden.
Fruit does not ripen here till the middle of August; a considerable amount
of wheat cultivation. Water plentiful from streams ; good grazing in sum
mer. Troops could camp north-west of the village. Roads from here to
Balisht 10£ miles, to Karambas 5| miles, Dez Giran 8 miles, and Kirmanshah
42 miles.— (Vaughan.)
JiBARlBAD PAIN—
A village in the Kirmanshah district situated in the Bilawar valley
about 42 miles north of Kirmanshah city. J *
It contains 220 houses inhabited by Bilawari Kurds, Shl’ahs, and is
situated on the banks of a stream ; a few trees and a garden. Considerable
wheat cultivation, Supplies: 100 sheep and goats.— (Fawg^aw.)
JAFS —
A nomad tribe who live on both sides of the Turkish frontier as far south
as Khaniqin, but chiefly in the Saqqiz and Sauj Bulagh district of Azar-
baijan. They are considered- Kurds, though apparently more resembling
Arabs, and are divided into the Qashqal, Sursur, BabajanI, and Avromani
clans. They were formerly Persian subjects, but now acknowledge Turkish
sovereignty. They are popularly said to be able to muster 35,000 horse
men (5,000, according to Soane in 1910). The whole of the upland valleys
; of Saqqiz are invaded every spring by these nomads, and mounted parties
make swoops on the villages of the district, all of which are perfectly
defenceless, levy black-mail at their discretion, and recross the frontier
before they can be punished.
Notwithstanding the protests of the Persian Government, Merivan and the
districts of Khurkhureh, Salar, Hubetu and Tilehkuh are, during five or six
months of the year, occupied by the Turkish tribe of the Jafs. In contraven-
tionof the treaty between the Persian and the Turkish Governments, the
chiefs of this tribe, after having practically destroyed all the villages of
these districts, purchased them and have retained possession of them
During the time of their stay in Persia not only do the Jafs import and
export all their goods and produce without paying custom duty, but they
also help Ottoman subjects to import merchandise, specially prohibited
goods, such as arms and ammunition and aniline dyes, without paying
f ut V- These goods are then forwarded, under the escort of Jaf sowars,
to MukrI, Afshar, Zinjan,Garus, Hamadan and vicinity of Sinneh. To stop
the incursions of these Jafs a strong governor is required. It is said that a
large amount is allowed every year to the Governor of Kurdistan out of the
revenue of the province to defray the expenses for preventing the Turkish
Jafs from entering Persian territory.
TWiviamns of the Jaf tribe now (1912) recognised are as follows:—
_ Be S (Walad Begl); Jaf-i-Qadir-i-Murld (or Mir) Waisi; and
i W^h 1 ' , For further particulars see article under Qasr-i-Shirin, and
also Rabinos Gazetteer of Kirmanshah "—(Gerard; Plowden; Uabino.)