'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎307v] (619/706)

602
TALA—TALI
TALABKHAN—
A village in Azarbaijan, miles west of Maragheh.— (Schindler.)
TALlKEHSAR—
A village in Mazandaran, or rather the continuation of the village of
Mahmudabad lying a little to the west of Amul.— (Holmes.) ,
TALISH—
A district forming the northern portion of Gilan as far south as Kupur-
chal, and extending to the north into Russian territory. It formerly be
longed entirely to Persia, but now the north part as far south as Astara be
longs to Russia.
It is well watered by numerous streams, which send their waters to
the Caspian. It is divided into five or six different districts, each under a chief,
who is virtually independent. The climate of Talish is extremely unhealthy,
and all the inhabitants retire in the hot weather to their “ yailaqs ” in the
mountains. The soil is remarkably fertile, and produces grain, tobacco,
wine, cotton and silk. Monteith says the revenue of the Russian part is
absolutely nothing, and Holmes says the Russian part pays 30,000 tumans
from which, however, 14,000 are deducted for the maintenance of the con-
tingerlts of the chiefs.
History .—Talish was first taken possession of by the Russians at the invi
tation of its chief, Mustafa Khan, who was at enmity with Agha Muhammad
Qajar, and they sent a garrison to Lankuran. They were, however,
driven out of this in 1812, but, returning next year, they on the 13th Jan
uary 1813, assaulted the place with 2,000 men and three vessels of war
and carried it after sustaining a loss of 1,200 men killed and wounded;
among the latter of whom was the general, Kutlerous. Before the war
of 1826 the Russians were attacked and driven out by Mir Husain Khan,
son of Mustafa Khan, who maintained himself in the district till the end of the
war, when it, as far as Astara, whs given over to the Russians by the treaty
of Turkoman Chai. In 1912 the Russians wishing to place, as Governor
of Persian Talish, a nominee of their own, whom the people disliked, sent
a body of Russian troops and effected the appointment by force.— (Fraser',
Monteilh ; Holmes.)
Ethnography .—“ The tribes of Talish, which have ” says Fraser, “ several
features of character in common with the Lasghis of Daghistan, unite many
of the better qualities of highlanders with the barbarity of savages.
Their country being more accessible, and their chiefs more under control than
those of the Lasghis, they cannot be such systematic robbers, neither do
they embark so regularly in the business of taking prisoners for sale or
for ransom, which those formidable banditti practise; but property and
life are not at all more sacred in their hands, for they are continually maraud
ing among themselves, and plundering their immediate neighbours when
ever they can. Murder, if is said, is an every-day crime with them, and no
stranger would be safe for an hour in their country without the protection
of their chiefs, or those whom their chiefs must obey.”
“ These freebooters, however, are brave, and are devoted to their chiefs;
they are active and patient of fatigue, but are treacherous, merciless and