‘Gazetteer of Kermanshah.’ [‎97r] (198/504)

103
twenty in breadth, and is erected upon a range of poles, being fastened to
the ground with pegs. The tents are extremely rude, and do not show any
appearance or attention to comfort. In Azerbaijan, and the more northern
and consequently raiuy countries, they have another sort of tent which
has been borrowed from the Turkomans. This consists of ribs united, and,
when open, is like a cage on which thick felts are thrown, it being entered
by a narrow door : it is called ‘ alajeh ^ the goats’ hair tents are called
‘ kara-chadar, or black tent.
“ The encampments of the Iliyats are generally of about twenty to thirty
tents together, which they pitch mostly without any great attention to
regularity. They are also to he seen in a circle, as well as in line, and
appear conspicuous on a light soil owing to their black colour; on a dark
soil they are scarcely perceptible, particularly under the shadow of a
mountain. The tents are close to each other, but the different encampments
may be a mile or two .apart, according to the convenience of grass and
water.
« The Iliyats feed principally on the produce of their flocks, and eat sour
milk, cheese, dough or buttermilk, and much roghan or preserved butter.
Their annual expenses are much less than those of the inhabitants of cities ;
for, excepting their clothes, copper utensils, pack-sa<hlles, and ornamented
luxuries, they supply all their own necessities. Their simple manner of
living (not to mention their being out of the way of extortion) may be
calculated at one hundred per cent, cheaper than in the town. They make
their own tents or dwelling places, weave their own carpets and hammocks
of felt, cut their own wood and bum their own charcoal; they kill their
own meat, make their cheese and butter, and their lives are far more free
from disease and local complaints. Their dress does not differ from that of
other Persians, except in its extreme meanness. A man, rich in cattle, will
appear with a coat to his hack that scarcely holds together, and in very
indifferent dresses, with no other covering over their heads than their
tents ; their women and children brave all the rigour of winter. The favour*
ite wife or child enjoys whatever luxury of dress belongs to the tribe,
consisting of gold bracelets, necklaces, silver, and gold ornament's foi the
hair; frequently a handkerchief is edged with perforated silver coin, and
bandeaus of the same are tied about; the Head and neck. It is not ^uncom
mon to meet with ancient medals suspended about the neck and Heads of
the Iliyat women and children.
“ The time of the Iliyat’s rest is the winter, when his flocks are not
productive and require no other care than being led to pasture. Ihe men
then help the women to weave carpers and tent cloths, ojc spin goars hair.
At the approach of spring all is then tull of activity : the ewes biing foith,
then the lambs are tended, then shearing comes on, the flocks require
constant milking, and the numerous uses to which the milk is consigned,
such as for butter, dough, and roghan require much work, which die men per
form. The women, too, are very laborious; they pitch and unpitc
encampments when on the march ; load and unload^ the beasts of burden ,
attend the children and the young animals; they sit down in companies to
spin, and help to churn and make sour milk. The drudgery is tor the
business of women; protection, purchase, and sale, and all the grea er
interests of the community for the males.