Indian Antiquary Vol 08

SR No.: 032500
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 291

SEPTEMBER, 1879.]
BOOK NOTICES.
263
The hereditary Wâlis at present in Persia are :1, Walf of Hawizah residing at Hawizah ; 2, Wali of Pusht-i Kuh Luristân (a descendant of Kelb Ali Khan, the murderer of Captains Grant and Fotheringham, over seventy years ago), residing at Mandelf in Pusht-i Kuh Luristan, a district or province joining the Baghdad Pashalik on the east. In these two cases Wali would mean #chief." Then there is Muhammad Khan who has the title of Wali like his father Qasim Khân, a surname given him by the Shah. The governors of provinces are sometimes addressed as W&li. There was also till lately a Wali of Kurdistân.
The Muhammad of Gulnabad would thus be "Chief of the Hawizah Arabs and Governor of Arabistan."
On this Sir F. J. Goldsmid remarks ;
General Schindler's definition of " Walf of Ara. bistân" in doubtless correct, and the meaning of " Arabistân," both for Turks and Persians, must be restricted to those tracts of country peopled by Arabs which have been annexed to their respective dominions by Sulţån and Shân. "Viceroy of Arabia" is clearly a misnomer in this instance, it is as if the title " Viceroy of America" were applied to a Governor-General of Canada. Muhammed Walf is styled by Krusinski "Prince of Hacvuza, a part of Arabia dependent upon Persia." But the same author has much to say about this personago; nor is there, perhaps, any contemporary writer from whom so full an account of the Afghan invasion of Persia in 1723 can be obtained. In addition to the Wali of Kurdistan and others, mentioned by General Schindler, there is, or was until very recently, a Wali of Kesht. As regards the “Walis" of former days, the following extract from M. Sanson's writings may be read with interest. The actual volume quoted is a translation by John Savage published in 1695:
"There are six sorts of governors in Persia, viz. : 1. The Valis. 2. The Begueler Beguis. 3. The Col Beguis. 4. The Viziers. 5. The Sultans. 6. The Derogats.
"The Valis are descendants from such princes as have been conquered by the king of Persiar, and whose kingdoms he leaves to their sole government. There are ten of this kind, viz:-(1) Georgia; (2) Lauristan; (3) Aviza ; (4) Bactiaris; (6) Zeitoun Ardelan; (6) Mazandran; (7) Teharkez; (8) Herat; (9) Kandahar; and (10) Karamania or Kerman. These Valis have their places at the Council-board, and at feasts and public audiences, immediately after the six Rokna Dolvets. They are considered of as Princes, and have those priviledges as the king's guests have, which is to be Pensioners and Tablers during their stay at Court. The king has lately seized upon the government of the Vali of Kerman as also of the other Begueler-beguis. I know not whether because their race failed, or that he had a jealousie they had a mind to rebell. Also there is a great likelihood he will do the same in Lauristan, where he has already placed a Governour. The Vali of Georgia also has some reason to fear the like fate, if the endeavours he seems to be making to recover his ancestor's right, should not succeed."
The question of Orthography, if not identity in Oriental names, seems to have been as unsettled some two centuries ago as it is at present. In the translator's preface we read :-"Our author was one of the latest travellers into those parts, and perhaps made the longest residence there. I know that others do differ from him in proper names of places and persons; but I thought it not safe to follow'em."
BOOK NOTICES. THE MIRACLE PLAY OR HASAN AND HUSAIN. Collected Resident in the Persian Gulf (1862-1873) he befrom oral tradition by Colonel Sir Lewis Pelly, K.C.B., K.O.S.I. Revised, with explanatory notes, by Arthur N.
came interested in the great "Passion Play," and Wollaston. In Two Yols. rl. 8vo. (London; W. H.
becoming acquainted with a Persian who had long Allen & Co. 1879.)
been engaged as a teacher and prompter of actors, The soenes of the Muharram are well known in he arranged with him to collect and dictate all the India and the indoor ceremonies of the Shia'hs scenes of the very tragic drama of Hasan and have been described in our pages. In these two Husain. These scenes, fifty-two in number, two volumes Sir Lewis Pelly has supplied to our of his assistants-Messrs. J. Edwards and G. literature, for the first time, the substance of the Lucas-turned into English, and from among these long and often impromptu drama annually per-| thirty-seven are now published. In 1878 he beformed on the occasion in Persia. While Political thought him of the MS., and asked Mr. Wollaston
• The Academy, May 10, 1879, p. 414.
1 See a well written paper by tbe late Charles Gover, M.R.A.S., vol. I. p. 165 ff. and conf. Gobineau's Religions
et Philosophies dans l'Asie, 2nd ed. 1866, where & very good account is given of the Persian theatre.