'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOL. IV, PART II.' [‎40v] (85/212)

G8
Coastal region.
dress into which the kulah does not enter. The population
numbers about 15,000. Their well-bred manners conceal an
unreliable and ungrateful disposition, and they are inclined to be
uncivil to foreigners though less so now than xormerly.
The townspeople of Shiraz are said to ce of a hst. mixed
Iranian type than is encountered elsewhere, but it is difiicult to
fix upon any feature as predominating or distinctive of them
The town population includes a certain number of Armenians,
Shira/Js;pe notably given to philosophical speculation, and the
Babi movement has found widespread support in the town.
The tribes which inhabit the coastal region and are known
by the names of the various districts they inhabit have oeen
separate entities for centuries; they are clans in the sense of the
Scottish clans before the 18th century, some districts having
feuds with others lasting generations, others having traditional
friendships with certain of their neighbours, retaliating as a
tribe any raid or injury done by an aggressor. In the better
organised districts the hereditary chiefs or Khans direct the
inter-tribal and external policy of the tribe so that much depends
on the sentiments and capacity of the Khans.
As regards the local interests of the chiefs and occupations of
the tribesmen and peasants, the districts fall into three natural
categories :—
(«' The northern districts, Liravl, Haiat Baud, Rfid Hilleh
and Shabankarch are piimarily occupied in agricul
ture and possess large flocks towards their mountain
frontiers, wherfe grazing is carried on during the
spring and summer. The^. also have three busy
little ports in Bandar Dilam, Bandar Rig and Gana-
veh, the first named serving for the supply of the
inland market at Behbehan and the Kuhgalu tribes,
the other two for that of the nomad tribes across the
mountains. The Khan’s incomes are derived from
the taxation of cultivation and certain port dues,
etc. The Khan of Shabankareh has the advantage
oi administering the river-irrigated district of ZTa.
which produces valuable quantities of dates, cotton,
etc.
(5) There is also considerable, though less, cultivation of
grain in Borazjfm, Chahkiitah and Angali. Far the
must important interest of the Khans of tluso