'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎308r] (620/706)

TALA—TALV
603
rapacious towards all the world beside. They have very few good qualities,
and yet they are interesting from the many points of resemblance in their
patriarchal or feudal economy to the Highlanders of Scotland, as they were
in old times. There is, amongst these tribes, not only the same devoted
attachment of clansmen to their chief but among that chief’s retainers one
might discover the same description of attendant gillies, and henchmen,
which constituted the followers of a highland laird. The rude firelock of the
chief is borne in charge by one young man, while another takes care of his
cloak, a third of his pipe. Others again are ready to assist his steps, or stand
by his horse’s head, on occasions of danger or difficulty. Crowds of idle
hangers-on stand before his window or lounge lazily about the doors,
awaiting their lord’s appearance, and start into motion with the same
springing activity, whenever he gives the signal for marching.
“ But as the Highlands of Scotland are far outdone in height and diffi
culty by the rugged mountains of Talish, so does the Talish mountaineer
surpass the Scottish Highlander in the strength, ease, and agility with
which he springs up the longest and most precipitous passes ; even the
little boys dash up the steep faces of the hills after the straying cattle,
astonishing by the facility, with which they move along the most danger
ous places. The nature of the life and the active habits of these people
have a great effect upon their general appearance. They are, for the most
part, spare, raw-boned men, of robust though not tall frames, with counte
nances not unlike the Highlanders of Scotland. Their dress consists of
a large pair of trousers, made of coarse grey or dark brown stuff, reaching
below the ankles ; and generally tied into the “ charuks, ” or shoes, which are
nothing more than a leather sock drawn round the instep, and tied on by
a thong passing many times round the ankles. These are madb to fit, or rather
to draw very tight, and appear sufficient to guard the foot against the stones,
while they fit so easily as to be very pleasant to the wearer, and enable him to
move along at a great pace. The only vest they wear is a sort of a long
tailed vest, fitted tight to the body the skirts of which are stuffed into
the trousers, so that the bulk of the nether man greatly exceeds that of the
upper parts. The head is covered by a sheepskin cap of red and black wool.
About the waist these mountaineers wear a leathern girdle, from which
suspends the formidable “ kamari,” or Gilani knife ; and over their shoulder
they carry their matchlock, in the use of which they are very expert. The
ammunition is carried in numberless rows of loops for cartridges on the breast
of the vest and other parts of the person, or in small gourds called “ kaddus ”
hollowed out to serve for powder horn, etc. In the hand is carried a basket
of plaited grass, in which they stow provisions or plunder. Such is the
complete portrait of a Talish highlander.”
TALAM SIHSHAMBEH—
A village 11 miles from Rasht on the road thence to Kazvln.— {Schind
ler.)
TALVAR—
A village in Kurdistan 8 farsakhs east of Sinandij.