'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎251v] (507/706)

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QASR-I-SHlRlN
almost equally well. Arabic is spoken largely in Khaniqin Generally
speaking, the language is Kurdi, against which Persian and Turkish make
Languages .—languages of the different tribes vary very considerably,
and are as follows :—
Sharafbaini ..
Bajlan
Guran
Baityarawand
Kalhur
Ahmadavand
Jaff. (Turkish tribe)
Sinmbl
Dilo
Qarauliis
Arkawazi
Resources.
| Turkish tribe
South Kurmanji.
Old Guran.
Old Guran and Kurdi.
Kurdi.
Kalhurl (Luri).
Kurdi.
Mixed Kurdi and Kur
manji.
Kurdi.
South Kirmanji.
Luri.
Luri.
-The country produces practically nothing except wheat and
barley sufficient for its own needs. The products of Zuhab and_ Sar-i-Pul
do not come under the scope of this report. In summer Ganumban, Gilan,
and Baahcheh are deserted, absolutely the only inhabited spots m them
being Imam Hasan, Sar Tatan, and Sarab-i-Mirt (or Sarab-i-G.lan).
There is an abundance of gypsum everywhere, and crude oil springs at Chia
Surkh in Bajlan, Imam Hasan in Bazi Daraz, and Tangab in Shah Kuh.
Bitumen also exists in the Sumbalak range and at Sar Qalao. There is also
reported to be oil in Aniirak. For a description of the oil springs set under
Kirmanshah (Province) Resources. . ,
Roughly speaking the geological feutures m Gilan are, limestone (m the
hills) gravel (in the plain) giving place to gravel over sandstone over clay m
Gunamban. Bajlan is gravel over standstone over clays, red and green, the
gravel denuded in many places. Agh Dagh is gravel and conglomerate, and
Compared to Kurdistan generally, the district is very barren. In s P ri ^g-
time, when all the hillsides and plains are covered with long grass, sprinkled
with flowers of many kinds, the country appears fertile enough, and at that
time wild asparagus, mushrooms, truffles, and various edible roots are
obtainable, but after April this is all dried up, and the country side becomes
particularly barren and forbidding, despite its plentiful water, and lizards,
scorpions, and snakes innumerable take the place of the vegetation. _
Mili'ary • Persians.—According to an old arrangement, the Sharafbaini are
to supply a small force, about 70-80 horsemen, but in the present state of
affairs this arrangement has fallen into desuetude. The Bajlan when under
the late’Aziz, supplied 150 horsemen, but the present head, Majid Khan,
cannot raise more than 100 men and those badly mounted and armed
’Ali Akbar Khan to whom the guarding of Kaleh Sabzi is entrusted, is to
supply 50 men in all and does so. These are liable to be called upon for
internal warfare. The Ahmadavand Buhtui supply no men for the
frontier, but are under obligations to assist in Harunabad and some
Kirmanshah districts when necessary. This they do. The Guran are