'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎404v] (813/982)

798
8HA—8HA
the Persian hills, in this neighbourhood called Taviseh ; and on the south
by the Rud Hilleh river. Its length from north-west to south-east is thus
about 20 miles and its breadth 12 miles.
Physical characteristics .—Except for the seaward slopes of the Taviseh
hills, which are included in the district, Shabankareh appears to consist
entirely of flat, open country. It is crossed by various water-courses from
the hills, but there are none of importance between the Rud Shur on the
east, and the Rud Shur or Rudkhaneh-i-Shur on the west. Water
is generally obtained from wells, but the villages on the Rud Hilleh river
procure their supply from that stream. In summer, hot winds blow for
three months from June to August, but the temperature falls considerably
at night.
Inhabitants. —Thel inhabitants mostly belong to Persian-speaking tribes
who have been settled here from time immemorialbut there are
a few villages of immigrants from neighbouring Persian districts, and
of Arab settlers. Most of the people belong to small or obscure tribes ;
the inhabitants of Deh Kuhneh, the principal village of the district, are
described as Haijab and Khajahvan. With few exceptions the people profess
the faith of the Shi’ahsect of the Muhammadan religion. They are neither
fanatical nor turbulent, but they are well-armed, and Martini rifles are
said to be as numerous as' households. The dwellings in most places are
huts, but about £ are houses of sun-dried brick. A list of the principal
villages is given below under the head of topography ; a description of
each is given separately in this Gazetteer. Most of the villages of
the district have one or two small towers for purposes of defence. The
total population of the district amounts to about 10,000 souls.
Agriculture. —Wheat and barley are the staples of cultivation, but there
are date-plantations in some of the villages, and in particular places
tobacco and water-melons are grown. Cotton has recently been intro
duced on a small scale. Livestock includes a fair number of cattle and
several thousands of sheep and goats.
Trade. —There is a small export of wheat, barley, tobacco, straw and wool,
and a corresponding importation of piece-goods, rice, tea, coffee, sugar and
spices. Business is chiefly with Bushire, the more northern villages dealing
with that place through the port of Bandar Rig, and the more southern
through Shif. The standard of length is a gaz, about 2 inches longer than the
English yard, and of weight a Hashim man, which varies from 18 to 24
Tabriz mans of Bushire. Persian krdns make up the bulk of the currency.
Communications and transport. —Deh Kuhneh, the principal place in
Shabankareh lies upon the route from Borazjun to Bandar Dilam or
Zaidan, and from Deh Kuhneh there is a track to the sea at Bandar Rig.
Shif, on the coast opposite Bushire town, is easily accessible across country
from the southern villages of Shabankareh, the distance being about 15
miles The transport resources are roughly estimated at 200 horses, 100
mules and 3,000 donkeys. In most villages where there are horses, mules
also are found to about ^ the number of horses. There are some camels.
Administration. Shabankareh is ruled by a hereditary Khan who is sub
ject to the Governor of Ears ; the present incumbent is Isma’il Khan, son of
Sahrab Khan, son of Rustam Khan, son of Muhammad Amir Khan : the
family are said to have come from Fasa near Shiraz in the Firuzabad district