Raiders of the Sarhad: Being an Account of the Campaign of Arms and Bluff Against the Brigands of the Persian-Baluchi Border during the Great WarDyer, R. E. H. (Reginald Edward Harry)
History
Raiders of the Sarhad: Being an Account of the Campaign of Arms and Bluff Against the Brigands of the Persian-Baluchi Border during the Great War
Dyer, R. E. H. (Reginald Edward Harry)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Middle East
But, although they are utterly lawless in regard to other people,
their few inter-tribal laws are fairly strictly observed. These laws,
however, chiefly consist of the doctrine that Might is Right and
Success pardons all Sins. In the Sarhad a man is expected to tell the
truth--unless a lie better suits his purpose. Any oath given on the
Koran is binding, provided a Mullah or priest is present. Otherwise
such an oath is as often honoured in the breach as in the observance.
They have, however, some standards of honour to which they strictly
adhere. If, for instance, they come as invited guests to your camp,
or if you go as an invited guest to theirs, treachery is not thought
of. The laws of hospitality, as in nearly all Eastern countries, are
strictly maintained.
Their food consists mostly of flour-cake, made, as a rule, of barley,
though occasionally of wheat, and goat-flesh and wild herbs. As their
herds always travel with them, except when fighting or raiding,
there is always a plentiful supply of meat and milk. Their slaves,
on the contrary, are half starved, and present the most pitiful
contrast to their own women and children, who are well fed, healthy
and provided with ample clothing.
Their country, the Sarhad, is very arid, sandy, sparsely cultivated,
and crossed by range upon range of bare volcanic hills, with rugged
peaks and precipitous sides. Some of these hills rise to considerable
heights, as, for example, the Koh-i-Bazman, overlooking Bampur in
the South. This peak reaches an altitude of eleven thousand four
hundred feet. The Koh-i-Taftan is another, of something over thirteen
thousand feet, and is snow-capped in Winter and early Spring, despite
the fact that it is an active volcano. The word Taftan signifies
boiling. Its crater possesses two main outlets, from which clouds
of sulphur-smoke are constantly being emitted. The whole summit is
in consequence covered with white ash, so giving it a wonderfully
imposing and picturesque appearance from a distance, especially at
sunset or sunrise. The effect is very like that of Fuji-Yama, but
certainly on a grander scale.
The hills of this district are all of volcanic origin, and, for this
reason, rich in sulphur and sal-ammoniac deposits. The low-lying
country obviously once formed the bed of a sea, for the fossils to be
found here in quantity are of marine origin, and the soil is thickly
impregnated with salt. Fresh water is very scarce, though large salt
water lakes are fairly frequent.
It is interesting to think how much could be done with this country
were some scheme of irrigation introduced. The natives have a simple
method of supplying water to meet their wants. This is done by means
of karezes, underground channels which tap underground springs and so
bring the water to where it is wanted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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