In this post , various tribes (taefeha) and clans (tireha) will be identified.
The Amaleh Tribe
Amaleh means “workmen.” Members of this tribe have been mostly in the service of the ruling Qashqa’i family. The members of this tribe come from various other Qashqa’i and non-Qashqa*i tribes. They are named Amaleh because they have been in the service of the ilkhan’s family; however, it is not to say that each and every member has been in the service of an ilkhan. Amaleh is one of the largest tribes of the Qashqa’i confederacy. It is estimated to include over 6,000 families (Oberling, 1974).
The Amaleh taefeh (tribe) is composed of the following major tireha (clans):
(1) Sohrab Khanlu (Nafar, Jameh Bozorgi, Meechack, Rahimlu, and Javid or Joei);
(2) Ali-Gholi-Khanlu (Bahlooli, Tavalali, and Chahardah Cherick);
(3) Musellu;
(4) Gharah Ghoyonlu;
(5) Fayyeblu;
(6) Chobankara;
(7) Chegine;
(8) Qottolu;
(9) Bahman Beyglu-Igder;
(10) Ard Kappan;
(11) Safikhan;
(12) Ghoja Behglu;
(13) Ghottelu;
(14) Ghezel-lu;
(15) Bore-Bore;
(16) Boogar;
(17) Jaafa Beyglu
(18) Bole-lu;
(19) Bahlol-lu;
(20) Bayat;
(21) Bolu-ye Kohlu;
(22) Sarou’i;
(23) Kohva;
(24) Daramah Sholku;
(25) Oryad Amalah;
(26) Behe;
(27) Baharlu;
(28) Tavalale;
(29) Jarkanlu;
(30) Korrane;
(31) Kolal Secah;
(32) Sagkez;
(33) Shanlu;
(34) Meharaki;
(35) Mokhtarkanlu;
(36) Mehtarkhana;
(37) Korahkanlu;
(38) Mohamad Zamanlu (Peyman, 1967:233).
The Darrehshuri Tribe
Dareh Shur means “valley of the salt.” It is a valley in the summer camp of the Darrehshuri tribe. Allegedly, the tribe’s name has been taken from this
valley. The Darrehshuri tribe is another one of the largest tribes of the confederacy. The estimate is that there are more than 8.000 families in the Darrehshuri tribe (Oberling, 1974).
Following are the major clans of the Darrehshuri tribe:
(1) Narre’i Chahar-Banichah (Ashirlu, Qerrekhlu, Ali Mardanlu, Kheybarlu, Raees Beyglu, Asslonlu, Korrani vav Kalaklu, Nafar Jomulu);
(2) Chahar Banicheh Immanlu (Karimlu, Hajji Mohammedlu, Imananlu, Khoda-Verdeh, Abd-e-Soleymanlu);
(3) Taher Kikhalu (Lur, Asslanlu, Sagkez);
(4) Qaraganlu;
(5) Kazanlu;
(6) Qermeze;
(7) Naderlu;
(8) Bolvarde;
(9) Talahbazlu;
(10) Janbazlu;
(11) Ahangar;
(12) Abulkarlu;
(13) Charukhlu;
(14) Dundulu;
(15) Shahin-Kikhalu;
(16) Kheyratlu;
(17) Sadeglu;
(18) Qara Gechlu;
(19) Korbikosh;
(20) Ayeblu;
(21) Goyjeloleg;
(22) Chaharde Cherik;
(23) Hajj Davalu;
(24) Darzi;
(25) Qabozlu;
(26) Hemat Ali Kikhalu (Nafa, Qord);
(27) Shabankareh;
(28) Teemardlu;
(29) Qord;
(30) Ipeklu (Peyman, 1967:233-233)*
The Farsimadan Tribe
The name means “those who do not know Persian.” The Farsimadan tribe comprises approximately some 4,000 tents (Oberling, 1974). The Farsimadan clans are:
(1) Qaram Shamlu;
(2) Tavabe (Araqi, Kalbelu; Machanlu, Qasemlu, Gorja’i, Amalehe Morol, Lur, Mussulu, Lak, Shaban Kareh, Koranlu, Kaseb, Doghanlu, Owlad, Sheybanlu, Yandranlu, Zohrablu, Qoldor) (Peyman, 1967:234).
The Keshkuli Bozorg Tribe
The word Keshkur or Kashkul means a bowllik dish, usually carried by mendicant dervishes. This bowl, which s boat shaped, is connected to a chain from each end.
It is carried like a purse with a long strap, and normally over the shoulder. Things of value are carried in it. Oberling, in quoting Redhouse, stated that bowls carried by shepherds are also Keshkul. I must add that to my knowledge, Qashqa’is do not use this term for those bowls; however, some may. Keshkuli Bozorg, according to one of Oberling’s sources, may have more than 6,000 families. Many Luri and Kurdish elements have been assimilated into this tribe.
The major clans of the Keshkuli Bozorg are:
(1) Mohammed Saleh;
(2) Behgdeli Luri;
(3) Dizgani;
(4) Orukhlu;
(5) Bolvardi Azhdahakosh;
(6) Bolvardi Soleymani Feuje;
(7) Yad Kurlu;
(8) Goshtasp Lori;
(9) Korush;
(10) Ghuri Amini;
(11) Ghuri Dehbashi;
(12) Ghuri Heddayat;
(13) Lak Bart Ali;
(14) Lak Mashhadi Qara;
(15) Tayyeblu;
(16) Kohva Dah Sartip;
(17) Ghoshtasp Shirbim;
(18) Ali Asbarlu;
(19) Hajj Davalu;
(20) Chaha Banicheh Keshkuli;
(21) Ala Qoyunlu
(22) Taher;
(23) Ahmad Mahmudi;
(24) Beygdeli Torki Shish Boluki;
(25) Korrani;
(26) Ghanjeh’i;
(27) Asheg;
(28) Darrehshuri;
(29) Buger Sardar;
(30) Chelangar;
(31) Dadehkehe’i;
(32) Odeli;
(33) Ayeblu;
(34) Safi Khani;
(35) Salehuni;
(36) Farhadlu;
(37) Kohvadeh;
(38) Changi;
(39) Aqa Jari;
(4) Uriyad;
(41) Bollu;
(42) Buger Mohammed (Peyman, 1967:233-34).
Oberling listed several clans which do not appear on Peyman’s list. They are: Ghuri Baha-ed-Dini, Amaleh-ye-Eliyas Khani, Orukhlu, Jam’eh Bozorgi, Ardeshiri, Zangeneh Owlad Mirza’i, Shahnavaz Khanlu, Gardani, Karim Khani, Amaleh-ye- Fereydun Khani, Qaracheh, Amaleh-ye-Jahangir Khani, Mishan, Arab (Oberling, 1974:229-30).
The Shesh Boluki Tribe
According to Amir Teymur Khan, leader of the Shesh Boluki tribe, the name refers to six regions from which the different parts of the tribe are said to have come: Qara Dagh, Azarbayjan, Esfahan, Chahar Mahall, Kerman, and Fars. This leader estimates that the Shesh Boluki tribe comprises some 5,000 tents (Oberling, 1974).
The names of the Shesh Boluki clans are:
(1) Dokuzlu (Solu, Morshed, Araqu, and Davarlu);
(2) Chorba or Shorba Khorlu;
(3) Kuhi;
(4) Kolahlu;
(5) Alamdarlu Behgdeli;
(6) Qareh Yarlu;
(7) Dash Damerlu;
(8) Dost Mohammedlu Kolahlu;
(9) Heybatlu;
(10) Ali Ghiyalu;
(11) Ahangar;
(12) Arab Charpanlu;
(13) Jafarlu;
(14) Arab Shamlu;
(15) Eslamlu;
(16) Qaderlu;
(17) Qord;
(18) Chahar Moharlu;
(19) Qajarlu (Peyman, 1967:233).
The Keshkuli Kucheck Tribe
This tribe is a splinter from the Keshkuli tribe, which was referred to as Keshkuli Bozorg. The split took place around the turn of the century over political matters that developed between the Sowlat-ed-Dowleh, the ilkhan, and the khans of the Keshkuli tribe. This tribe is comprised of some 600 families. The clans of this tribe are:
(1) Aqchehlu;
(2) Karmanlu;
(3) Kuhvadeh;
(4) Nafar;
(5) Filvand;
(6) Alivand;
(7) Sahm-edini;
(8) Lor;
(9) Lak;
(10) Qara Chahi (Peyman, 1967:234).
Oberling listed a number of other clans:
(1) Karami;
(2) Akhajlu;
(3) Pagir;
(4) Qaraguzlu;
(5) Qaracheh Shams-ed-Dini (Oberling, 1974:231).
The Qara Chahi, or Qara Chahilu Tribe Most probably this name has been taken from the name of a place; it means “black well,” and also in one of the Qashqa’i dialects it means “black river.” It is believed that Qara Chahies are a Keshkuli tribe. This tribe is made up of around 500 families. Following are the names of the clans according to Peyman:
(1) Tus;
(2) Kordlu;
(3) Baha-ed-Dini, or Baha-ed-Dinlu;
(4) Chahar Dangeh;
(5) Pir Ali, or Pir Alu;
(6) Jhan Ahmadi;
(7) Garmsir;
(8) Karimlu;
(9) Jelow;
(10) Kolahlu;
(11) Qurd;
(12) Raki;
(13) Qarah Qirlu;
(14) Mai Ahmadi;
(15) Karim Abdalu;
(16) Bazyarlu;
(17) Qorush (Peyman, 1967:234).
Oberling listed the following clans as members of the Qara Chahi tribe:
(1) Javidi;
(2) Khan Ahmadi
The Safi Khani or Safe Khanlu Tribe
This tribe is commonly believed to have come from the Lorestan region, in western Iran. It is comprised of some 800 families. The clans of the Safi Khani tribe are:
(1) Owlad
(2) Khanjarlu;
(3) Karamali, or Karamlu;
(4) Qermezi, or Qermezlu;
(5) Zelai;
(6) Kalleh Khorlu, or Galleh Khorlu;
(7) Qeyali, or Qeyalu;
(8) Guyjaleh;
(9) Ali Kurdlu;
(10) Qashai (Peyman, 1976:234).
The following clans are claimed by Oberling to also be members of the Safi Khani tribe:
(1) Qujahlu;
(2) Yazla’i;
(3) Ali Korulu;
(4) Amaleh;
(5) Rahimi, or Rahimlu (Oberling, 1974:231).
The Rahimi clan which is comprised of over 400 families is listed by Peyman as a separate tribe (Peyman, 1967:232).
The Namadi Tribe This tribe is comprised of 600 families. These families are:
(1) Eraqi;
(2) Dayilar;
(3) Qara Zelli;
(4) Owlad (Oberling, 1974:232).