Sibi Balochistan

Friday, November 30, 2018

Sources of irrigation and method of division of water in Sibi district

The sources of irrigation in the Sibi Tehsil are streams and springs. The latter are to be met with only in mauza Tal Rekhmin of the Sibi circle. The former, which are locally known as Rods or Nalas, are of two kinds. Perennial and periodical. The latter receive their water supply from floods during rains.

Thus from the irrigation point of view ten villages of the Sibi tehsil have come to be classified under two heads. i.e (1) Ab-i-Siah mauzas or villages enjoying a perennial supply of water; (2) Sailaba mauza or villages irrigated by flood water only.

Nari Gorge water Source

The first mentioned villages are comprised in Sangan, Sibi, Kurk, and Khajjak circles of the Tahsil and the latter in Talli and mal circles.

Nari Gorge water Resource

In the Sangan circle the lands of mauzas Pir Ismail, Laki and Sangan that were subjected to settlement survey receive their supply of water from certain perennial streams, while those of the Sibi circle (excepting tal Rekhmin) and of Kurk and Khajjak circles are irrigated with the water of the Rod-i-Nari. There are however some mahals in the three circles under reference which comprise Sailaba lands as well. For instance, in the Sibi circle the sailaba land of mauza tal Rekhmin is irrigated with flood water of the mashkaf nala. Similarly, the sailaba lands of Bhakhra Shakar Khan and kach in the same circle and of mauza Gullu Shahr in the Kurk circle depend for their irrigation on the floods in the Rod-i-Nari.

Water Distribution among the villages of Sibi

Archaeological Sites in Sibi

This prehistoric process continued up to the Safi Pirak mound which dates 3000 years B.C. and even after that as we will see in the narrative which follows.

Safi Pirak Mound

Dawn Karachi of 11^th March 1969 reported as follows under the heading ‘Ancient Mound Found Near Safi Pirak village Sibi ‘.

A new site has been put on the archaeological map of the world with the discovery of a mound at Safi Pirak, 10 miles South of Sibi, which has a faint resemblance to the Quetta Culture.

Safi Pirak is a mound about eight meters high covering a surface of 12 acres, twenty kilometres south of Sibi on the road to Jacobabad 1.60 Kilometre east of the Nari river.

Prof. JM. Casal, leader of the French Archaeological Mission said at the National Museum that the unique type of pottery discovered at the mound is the only type of its kind found in Pakistan. Just why and how it is there is still a mystery.

Safi Pirak he said was first noticed by a British hydrologist Mr. R.L Raikes, in late fifties when he was working for WAPDA in Baluchistan region.

Prof. Casal and six other Frenchmen were the first to conduct full scale excavations in January last year. Beside the Pottery he said he also found iron, bronze and copper, black pottery charcoal and flint blades.

Safi Pirak Mound

The French Archaeologist said the upper levels of the site are of the period of first millennium B.C.

The wood charcoal found there will be subjected to radio carbon dating in a special laboratory outside Pakistan to determine the exact period of its origin.

Prof. Casal was introduced by Mr. Justice Ghulam ali the Director of Archaeologist Dr.F.A Khan also made brief reference to the work done by French mission in Pakistan.

Luni Mound

This site measuring about 400 by 200 feet with a height of about 30 feet, is situated near Luni village on Usmani land about 8 miles north-east of Sibi. It has been much disturbed. Unauthorized digging by the villagers for Gold and silver coins has been going on for ages and there are deeply eroded gullies made by rains on all sides. Potsherds collected from the site represent mostly plain pottery with heavy well fired red fabric. Decoration consists of stamped and relief designs Large handled jars and vases and spouted vessels of Sassanian type are quite common. Some polished red slipped sherds were also observed.

Luni Mound

A silver coin of the Indo-Greek period was collected. A stone sculpture with Kharoshti or Brahmi inscription was reported to have been dug out by the villagers from the site but could not be traced. The settlement is assigned to the Buddhist period attribution consistent with the collected objects dateable from the Indo-Greek to Sassanian periods but though the villagers reported the recovery of gold and silver relics no building was traceable on the surface.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Sibi Tehsil Ancient Records

The ancient documents of Sibi Tehsil office Tax collection and original files of Government records. The records of Sibi district preserved in separate office rooms.

Ahmad shah Durrani Degree issued to Nawab Barozai of Sibi

Dehpal Tribe lived in Sibi Fort

Panni Tribe of Sibi defeated Arghuns

Revenue of Sibi District collected by Barozai Nawabs

Panni Tribes of Sibi District

The Barozai section is the Sardar khel among the Pannis of Sibi. The present head of the Barozai family is Sardar Muhammad Khan who resides in mauza Kurk of the Sibi tehsil. The Barozai Sardars were often appointed as Governors of Sibi by the Mughal Emperors and they enjoy the title of “Nawab”. The also carried on the administration of Sibi on behalf of the Afghan rulers.

Purport of Sanads.

Parwana (warrant) from Ahmad Shah Durrani to Ismail Khan Pani Barozai, Governor of Sibi dated the 19^th Zilhaj 1166 A.H. (1753 A.D.) to the following effect: -

Whereas all the enemies of our empire have been humbled and subdued, we are pleased to direct our attention and energies to the internal administration of the country. You are therefore hereby directed to summon to you all the chiefs, Maliks, elders and other respectable men of Sibi and the adjoining territory and instruct them to restore to their original state all villages, gardens, mills, forts, mosques and shrines which have of late fallen inti ruin and to bring under cultivation all land lying waste. In case you fail to see the above directions carried out exemplary punishment will be inflicted upon you. Should you find yourself unable to perform the above mentioned duties, you should make a report of the fact at once to us, and we would then make arrangements for some other man. If you exercise tyranny and oppression over the people, they will be at liberty to make representation to us and get you removed from your office.

Sanads

Sanad dated 6^th Jamadi-us-Sani 1176 A.H. (1762 A.D.) granted by Ahmad Shah Durrani to Isa khan son of Ismail Khan Pani Barozai to the following effect: -

Muhammad Khan pani Barozai and others belonging to Dasht-i-Kohi and Kakari tribes of Pani are hereby informed that Isa Khan son of Ismail khan (who laid down his life in serving our Government), nominated by us to succeed to the Government of Sibi and its dependencies and has also been honored with the title of Bakhtiar Khan. It therefore behaves all the Pani tribes, Dasht-i-Kohi and Kakari to regard Bakhtiar Khan Pani Barozai as their chief and Governor in place of the late Ismail Khan and to give him the same obedience, fealty and honor as they did to his father.

Sanads

Sanad dated the 8^th Muharram 1201 A.H. (1786 A.D.) bearing the seal of Timur Shah, to the effect that Ahmadyar Khan, Mahmud Khan and Muhammad Rahim Khan Panis have been granted R 5000 as an annual allowance recoverable from the revenues of mauzas Talli and Kurk. Let no one infringe this order.

Letter No. Dated 18^th July 1841 A.D. from Rose Bell Political agent to the Naib Muhammad Hassan, to the effect that Shakar Khan Pani Barozai, brother of Misri Khan Pani Barozai has in support of his application, produced a Sanad bearing the seal of Mehrdil Khan Barakzai for one pao of water and 40 Kharwars of wheat, you are hereby directed to restore Misri Khan to his right if he has any.

The Barozai jagirs in the Sibi district.

The assignments which comprise the jagirs of Kurk and Sangan originated in the influential position held by the Barozai nawabs during the Mughal and Afghan occupation of the country.

The Kurk Jagir estimated value of which is Rs. 10,000/ a year was enjoyed by the Barozai Nawabs during the Afghan rule and was continued to them after the British occupation of the country. It was formally confirmed by the Government of India in January 1899 to the heirs of the Barozai Nawabs of Sibi in perpetuity subject to the condition of loyalty and good behavior. The Jagir consists of nine pao of water and land of which eight pao are owned by the Kurk and one pao by the Barozai subdivided into 21-1/2 and 3 dahanas (and 264 and 36 rahki) respectively. Of the 36 rahkis are cultivated by Musa Khan, Shakar khan and other Naudhanis and 22 rahki by other tenants. These tribes pay revenue to the Barozais at the rate of one-fourth of the produce of wheat, cotton and bhusa and one-fifth of jowari, sarshaf, sabz khurda, sawra and barley. In the case of jowari an equal amount of karbi is also taken by the Jagirdars if the cultivation is within one mile of the Kurk village but when lands beyond that distance are cultivated twelve bullock-loads of karbi per dahana are taken. In addition to the revenue the Barozais levy certain ceases (naibi, kardari, etc) aggregating 12 kasas per kharwar from each dahana.