Geography and People of Daraban and Areas Around As Observed and Recorded By Major Herbert B. Edward
“Daraban is a small section of the Daaman proper. It lies south and southwest of the area of the Gandappor. Its boundary with Kulachi on the north is the nullah or stream of Zarkunee, or swan; on the west the outer ridge of the Tukht-Sooliman; on the south with the Babhurs, a line of pillars laid down by an Englishman in 1847. The Daraban generally resembles the neighbouring area of the Gandapoors; but Daraban is more undulated toward the hills, its village are surrounded by more trees and vegetation, and on the whole it wears a more cheerful and prosperous appearance. The possessors of Daraban are the Miankhel a branch of the great Lohanee tribe, who took it from a tribe of Afghan fakers called Surwani, now almost extent, and another tribe named the Bukhtiars, whom Elephantine describes as having come originally from Persia.. The subdivisions of Miankhel are as follow; Miankhel Sotkheyl Hoosseinkheyl Syedkhel, shadikhel Omerzai, vurrookee Baloochkhel, Ukakhel mushakhel, Moosehzye Ubakhel, Shaheekhel Zakoree Mallakhel, Gholamkheyl Passani, The above families divided the land of Daraban with the Bukhtiars thus; one-fourth of the country was monopolised of the Mossazai, the most powerful branch of the Miankhel to be. The Mossazai was subdivided into four families, named tajokhel, Khanokhel, Muddikhel, Mummundzai. No other family of the Miankhel had any interest in the land of Moosehzyes, who formed a village named Moosehzye, on the southern border of the Daraban. Daraban Kalan is the center of different villages. It is said that in the same year Daraban boasted a single mango tree the fruit of which had such a delicious flavour, that Rangeet Singh used to have it sent to him at lahore. The pass of Zarkani is about two koss from the village of the same name, which is in the area of Daraban kalan. The village of zirkani is the exclusive property of Sheikhs, who are descendants of a celebrated saint named Sheikh Hyder A stream of the purest water reaches the village from the pass, and its course is marked by several sheeshum-tree, which give the spot a picturesque appearance. Zirkani is rendered still more remarkable by its sacred ground containing the cemeteries of the Powindays. The graves compactly made of piled stones; some all white, carefully selected; and all have large, upright stones placed at the head. It is by the Zarkani pass that caravans of Powindays go to Kandahar and rest of Afghanistan. Fort of Akhond (daraban) About five or six miles to the south of the Zirkani pass, is the pass of Daraban, the mouth of which is about eight miles from Daraban itself. Not very far from midway between the town and the pass of Daraban, but rather nearer to the latter, are ruins of the former fort of Akhoond, Gul Habib. This Akhond belonged to a tribe called Hurrial, connected with Sheranies; the same probably as that of "Hurreepaul," mentioned by Mr.Elphinstone as a branch of the Sheramies, residing "in the hills and vallaeys at the western base of Tukht-i-Sooliman. He thought to settle quietly in area west of Daraban Kalan, and built here a fort. It is interesting to note that the descendants of Akhoond still live in daraban and one of them, Aallaudin Khonzada was till his death three years ago leading political figure of daraban., Dheyra (daraban) Close to the fort of Gul Habib stands a rainfurrowed mound, called by the people a "DHEYR" and which according to some scholers could ba a link in the chain of Graeco Bactrian outposts on the frontier of Tank. or this mound could be more recent, nearly 5oo years old. Opinions vary
Lahoruh(daraban) From the Daraban pass issues the Lahoruh, a parnial stream which floods in hot summers and it flows by Daraban town and divides it into two parts; the course of the stream is beautifully marked and shaded by sheeshum-trees. About five miles of pass of Daraban, and farther to the south, is the plass of Zam, from which flows a stream which is the ancient boundaries between the Miankhail of Moosezai, and the Babhurs of Choudwan; and which has caused a bloody feud by dividing into two branches Chouwan The area of Chiudwan, like Daraban, Kolachi and Tank, is a section of the eastern Daman of the Soolimanee range, having Daraban on the north, the Oostraunee lowlands on the south, and the Sherani and Oosteraunee hills on the west. The Babhurs of old times were said to have been in possession of a written order from Ahmad shah of Kabul, to a Sardar named Jehan khan, directing him to proceed to the Daman, and settle the boundaries of the Miankhails with both the Gandapoors and the Babhurs. This document was accompanied by another containing the Srdar's decision, by which the Sawan or Zirkunnee Nullah, was settled to be the boundary between Daraban and Kolachi, and the Nullah called Kowruh between Daraban and Choudwan. The authenticity of both documents was acknowledged on both sodes; but arise as to the indenty of Kowruh Nullah alluded to. There is a little rivulet about two hundred yards to the south of Moosazai which is called Kowruh to the day, and this the Babhurs maintained to be the boundary of Jahan khan's decision. There is another and larger one, about two koss to the south of Moosazai, which is called Turkhoba and this the Miankhails declared to be the ancient Kowruh. Mr. Elphinstone found the Babhurs, forty years ago, "a civilized tribe, much addicted to merchandise, and, on the whole the richest and most flourishing of the tribes of Daman". There bravery has been sufficiently established by their blood. Feud with the powerful Miankhails whom they almost rival in commerce also, and their general intelligence as a tribe has given rise to many proverbs. One says that " a babhur fool is a Gandapoor sage" another tells how the Babhurs ventured into agricultural partnership with the devil, and gave him his choice of the roots or stocks of the harvest. The devil choosing the stocks they sowed nothing but onions, carrots, and turnips. The devils very naturally annoyed, insisted next harvest on getting the roots, so the Babhurs grew wheat and sugar.” Hidayat khan
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