'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART II: L to Z' [‎57v] (119/988)

677 LUR—LUR
This regiment served in I)uristan and once went to Tehran ; bnt in the
present day it exists merely in name. When the regiment was mobilized
its command was vested in the Governor of Tihran.
Life, Habits arm Religion of the 'Tribesmen —From the several allusions
made to their life and habits in the detailed description of the more impor
tant tribes, it may have been gathered that the life of the tribesmen is one
of general insecurity and anxiety. That they would be happy, if it Were
otherwise, is questionable but the effect on their temperament is distinctly
apparent. The chiefs in particular have an anxious and worn appearance,
and are constantly busied with the maturing of agreements, the pursuit of
intrigues and the excitement of hostilities, which are necessary for the
maintenance of the independence, not to say existence, of their tribes. The
tribesmen themselves, while absolved from the burden of the arrangement
of these schemes, are the means by which they are carried into effect ;
and their life is, therefore, in the case of some of the tribes, a constant
repetition of forays and raids, thieving and broken bonds. No better general
description of a Lur can be given than that he is an adroit and incurable
thief.
Another unpleasant characteristic of the Lur is the utter absence of clean
liness. This is one of the chief complaints of the Persian officials who
have to dwell amongst them. For instance, it is said that in the whole
district of Alishtar there is only one hammam ; and that one is built by a
chief for his own private use.
A fat or stout man or woman is rarely seen, while their figures are wiry
and well knit to endure fatigue. The prevailing diseases appear to be
indigestion, rheumatism, malaria,, liver and spleen, due to scanty clothing,
sleeping on the ground and exposure. The women wear loose, shapeless
dresses, affording no warmth, with little or no underclothing. The clothing
of the children is of like character, affording no protection against the cold
to the chief internal organ. Most of the offices of labour are performed
by the women ; they tend the flocks, till the fields, store the grain, and tread
nut that which is required for use. The men content themselves with sow
ing and reaping, cutting wood for charcoal, and defending their property
against the attacks of others.
The religion of the Lurs is that which is common to most parts of Persia,
namely, Shfah Muhammadanism ; the sect known as "Ali Illahi is confined
to certain branches of the Dilfan, though it numbers followers in places as
far distant as Hamadan, as well as in Kirmanshah. With the exception of
the chiefs, however, and their relations, the tribesmen pay very little heed
to religious observances ; but the chiefs (even the Dfrakwand) always carry
rosaries and say their prayers at the stated times. The Koran is in daily
use for completing agreements and alliances : and its tenets and teachings
are kept sufficiently in evidence at the rauzeh khanehs, which are a feature
among religious ceremonies throughout Persia generally. In regard to
AH 1 llaln-ism it can only be said that its existence is kept very quiet, and
in towns, like Hamadan, this is especially the case : and it is further very
doubtful whether they keep up any of the extravagances attributed to
them by old travellers. Schindler states that the "total assessment of
Pusht-i-Kuh and Pish Kuh is 14,000 tnmans. Apart from the usual taxa-