35 



Notes on Persia, 



[July 



the Afghans and their neighbours, but also the peculiar formation of 

 their government, which materially differs from that of the surrounding 

 countries. The great tribes of Afghanistan more resemble an alliance 

 of separate independent states, and those of a most democratic form, 

 than the despotic kingdom of an Asiatic sovereign. This kingdom has 

 not been sufficiently long established, to allow the sovereign to divide, 

 and break into different clans, these formidable bodies, who have, in the 

 space of one hundred and thirty years, three times changed the dynasty. 



The Ghilegies, in the early part of the last century, under Mir Veis, 

 revolted from Persia, conquered it, and held possession, till expelled by 

 Nadir Shah, who again fully revenged the injuries inflicted on his coun- 

 try. After his death Mahmood Shah and Zeman Shah both reigned in 

 Afghanistan, from the Soddozye branch of the Dooraney, and Doosfc 

 Mohamed Khan, chief of the Baurikzyes, now promises to join the 

 same station. The power is too equally balanced, for any chief 

 ever to exercise more than a nominal authority over any but his 

 own tribe. The towns, and some lesser tribes, who have not 

 power to resist the particular one of which the king may be 

 the head, are all he can really command. So full and admirable 

 an account of these divisions has been given by Mr. Elphinstone in 

 his journey, that any thing I could say would only be a repetition of 

 his observations, with far less pretensions to correctness. My informa- 

 tion was chiefly derived from some of the exiled chiefs, who were at 

 the Persian court, and resided there nearly from the time Mr. Elphin- 

 stone had been in their country, and I only give the following list to 

 shew the strength of the leading tribes. Besides there are many 

 smaller ones, who altogether amount to a considerable number, and 

 generally follow the fortunes of the ruling party, being equally 

 oppressed by all, with little attachment or fidelity to any. Such 

 a state can muster a most formidable power for foreign invasion, and 

 the conquest of the neighbouring countries is much easier than the 

 establishment of a firm government at home. 



Great Tribes of Afghanistan. 



„ r f Eimuks Families e 0,000 about 400,000 souls. 



350,000 



1,000,000 



750,000 5 Shah Kamran Mohamed 

 650,000 ^ Shah, Sha Shudjah. 

 250,000 Dost Mohamed Khan's. 

 5U0,000 Tribe of Meer Vois and the 

 conquerors of Persia. 



100,000 

 50,000 

 125,000 



1,750,000 But divided into a great num - 

 ber of small tribes, there- 

 fore subject to the govern- 

 ment. 



T»rt»r 3 Hazarahs , 70,000 



frftcui ^Tj s becks tribes of 



ori g ia -( Balk 200,000 



Eusofzyes 150,000 



Dooranies 130,000 



Deduct Baurikzyes.. 50,000 



Ghilgies 100,000 



Turcolanies 20,000 



Upper Momunds 10,000 



Ky beiies 25,000 



Peshour tribes about 350,000 



