DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0292
276 KOONDOOZ.
BOOK II.
Koolab, which is one of these, and lies between
Durwaz and Shughnan, is already in his possession.
His power extends south to Syghan, within thirty
miles of Bameean, and across two of the passes of
Hindoo Koosh.
The population of the territory consists chiefly
of Tajiks, the aborigines of the country, who form
the great body of the people in Budukhshan. The
Uzbeks bear a very small proportion to them.
The Meer of Koondooz attained his present as-
cendancy on the death of Khilich Ali Beg, a well-
known Uzbek chief, who long ruled in Balkh, as a
nominal tributary to the crown of Cabool. Moorad
Beg, of Koondooz, held a secondary command
under this person.
At his death, which occurred more than eight
years since, Moorad Beg entered into intrigues with
the different members of his family; and finally
succeeded in establishing his own authority. The
sons of Khilich Ali Beg now govern Khooloom and
Heibuk as his vassals. The Kutghuns have always
possessed influence among the Uzbeks, but Moorad
Beg is the first of his family, or of his countrymen,
who has formed so extensive a principality. The
tribe is of Mogul extraction, as it is termed, since
they and the Kalmuks descend from one stock.
They entered their present seats in the 16th cen-
tury, with the great Uzbek nation, that expelled the
descendants of Timour from their paternal kingdom.
Koondooz appears to have been the utmost limit of
invasion, since the Uzbeks have not settled in Bu-
dukhshan, or south of Hindoo Koosh. The power
BOOK II.
Koolab, which is one of these, and lies between
Durwaz and Shughnan, is already in his possession.
His power extends south to Syghan, within thirty
miles of Bameean, and across two of the passes of
Hindoo Koosh.
The population of the territory consists chiefly
of Tajiks, the aborigines of the country, who form
the great body of the people in Budukhshan. The
Uzbeks bear a very small proportion to them.
The Meer of Koondooz attained his present as-
cendancy on the death of Khilich Ali Beg, a well-
known Uzbek chief, who long ruled in Balkh, as a
nominal tributary to the crown of Cabool. Moorad
Beg, of Koondooz, held a secondary command
under this person.
At his death, which occurred more than eight
years since, Moorad Beg entered into intrigues with
the different members of his family; and finally
succeeded in establishing his own authority. The
sons of Khilich Ali Beg now govern Khooloom and
Heibuk as his vassals. The Kutghuns have always
possessed influence among the Uzbeks, but Moorad
Beg is the first of his family, or of his countrymen,
who has formed so extensive a principality. The
tribe is of Mogul extraction, as it is termed, since
they and the Kalmuks descend from one stock.
They entered their present seats in the 16th cen-
tury, with the great Uzbek nation, that expelled the
descendants of Timour from their paternal kingdom.
Koondooz appears to have been the utmost limit of
invasion, since the Uzbeks have not settled in Bu-
dukhshan, or south of Hindoo Koosh. The power