'CORRECTIONS TO GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME III' [‎54r] (109/180)

KUH-KUH
54
tion of the B^ir Ahmadi, was reported to have achieved wonders against
the Bulr Ahmadi. This column also attempted to coerce the Mamassani,
and with this object called in the co-operation of the Kashkull. The net
result, however, of the whole appears to have been negligible, and the
Bakhtlarl road was subjected to Kuhgalu raids as usual.
About this time the strange phenomenon was presented of some Bhir
Ahmadi under Mulla Qubad, regularly escorting caravans on the Bushire-
Isfahan road, between Aminabad and Abadeh, and thus rendering the
The Kuhgalii or Kfihgilui, as they are sometimes called, find a meaning
for their appellation in the derivation “ Kuh-i-GiluI ” or the “ Dwellers of the
earth hills.” They are, for the greater part, nomads like their neighbours
the Bakhtlarls, with the difference, however, that their annual migrations
are much shorter than those of their neighbours, and are often restricted
to moving from the valley bottoms to the upper mountain slopes. They
are sub-divided into tribes and sub-tribes, given in detail later, which are often
separated by bitter and implacable blood-feuds.
The Kuhgalu consider themselves distinct from the Bakhtiaris; their
dialect, however, differs but little from that of the Bakhtiari, and their man
ners, customs, character and religion are the same. Few Kuhgalu can under
stand ordinary Persian.
The mode of life and habits of the Kuhgalu are very primitive, and their
Chiefs have even less of the veneer of civilization than those of western
Luristan. They are roughly dressed, often without shoes, and are more
uncouth than the Bakhtiari. Their administration (q.v.) is of the patriarchal
form, common to all tribes of the Lur stock, and their form of taxation is light.
In looks, they are living images of the figures which are found in the
rock carvings in their country, both in features, mode of dressing their hair
and, to a great extent, their clothing.
The tribe numbers about 25,000 families, and estimates vary from 10,000
to 20,000 regarding the number of fighting men the tribe could raise (see table
under Military). These figures take no account of the settled population
of Behbehan, Zaidan and I.iravi-Dasht {q.v.).
The Kuhgalu tribe is divided in two different ways, ethnographically and
geographically, thus causing some confusion, especially as authorities differ
as to the classification in each case. The two main sub-divisions ethnographi
cally are:—
road comparatively safe.
Ethnography.
(a) Chehar Bariicheh, sub-divided into :■
Bulr Ahmadi.
Dushman Ziari.
Churam.
Nuyi.
Bavl.
(b) Liravi, sub-divided into ;—
Khadirl.
Agha Jarl.
[N.B .—Yusufi are connected with
the Bahmai ].