'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART I: A to K' [‎594r] (1192/1278)

KtH—KtfH
587
Early in 1913 Amir-i-Mujahid arranged for two columns to enter the
Kuhgalu country, in order to coerce the Taiyibi Dushman Ziari, and part
of the Buir Ahmadi into submission. A northern column, composed chiefly
of Bakhtiaris with some friendly Bahmai, entered the country from Ramuz
and Mamatain. This column was cut off by the Taiyibi Kuhgalus, who
held the Tang-i-Chavil in its rear, and was then attacked and dispersed.
Another column operating from Behbehad, supported by Shukrullah’s
section of the Buir Ahmadi, was reported to have achieved wonders against
the Buir Ahmadi. This column also attempted to coerce the Mamassani,
and with this obejct called in the co-operation of the Kashkuli. The net
result, however, of the whole appears to have been negligible, and the
Bakhtiari road was subjected to Kuhgalu raids as usual.
About this time the strange phenomenon was presented of some Buir
Ahmadi under Mulla Qubad, regularly escorting caravans on the Bushire-
Isfahan road, between Aminabad and Abadeh, and thus rendering the
road comparatively safe.
Ethnography.
The Kuhgalu or Kuhgilui, 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 Bakhtiaris, 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
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 the Bakhtiari, and their
manners, customs character and religion are the same. Few Kuhgalu
can understand 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 exent, 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 Liravi-Dasht (q-v.).
The Kuhgalu tribe is divided in two different ways, ethnographically and
geographically, thus causing some confusion, especially as authorities differ