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ATMAN VALLEY
Fertile valley lying between the inner range of the Chindu Mountains and the Durbal Plateau.
The Atman Valley is the home of the Karzai, Marzai, and Warzai clans of the Atmani tribe. The valley is one of the most fertile areas of Gaziristan, and produces most of the cereals eaten by the Gaziris.

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B

BAACC
See: British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

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BASHIRI KHAN, CHIEF MOHAMED
Chief of the Bathanis.
He is the eldest son of Chief Ahmed Bashir Khan, who was killed by the British during a punitive expedition against the Bathanis when Mohamed was a child. At the instigation of the Viceroy of Chindia, Mohamed was sent to a English public school. This was done in the hope that he would receive the sort of education that would prepare him to rule his tribe in peaceful coexistence with British Chindia. On leaving school Mohamed went to Oxford, where he rowed for his college and achieved a First in History. He then returned to Gaziristan, where he became an even bigger thorn in the side of the British rulers of Chindia than his father had ever been. He led the Gaziri troops who captured Fort Chunderbad at the entrance of the Kybosh Pass, but was defeated by British troops, led by Sir Hector Boleyn-Green, when he tried to defend Durbal during the British invasion of Gaziristan.

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BATHANI
Gaziri tribe.
The Bathanis live close to the Jakzi and Kybosh Passes in the border area between Gaziristan and Chindia. The Bathanis are a constant threat to peace on this troubled frontier, and the British have mounted several campaigns against them since taking over Chindia. The tribe is split into several clans. These include the Jakzi Khel, the Kybosh Khel, and the Munir Khel clans.

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BELLA HISTAR
The main fortress of Durbal.
The Bella Histar forms the main defences of Durbal, the capital of Gaziristan. It is a star-shaped fortress whose walls are made of earth reinforced with some internal stonework.

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BOLEYN-GREEN, SIR HECTOR
The senior military commander on Chindia's North West Frontier.
Sir Hector commanded Fort Chunderbad during the Bathani attack on British forces defending Chindia's North West Frontier. He later led the successful invasion of Gaziristan and the capture of Durbal and its fortress, the Bella Histar. His sterling service on Chindia's North West Frontier and in Gaziristan was rewarded by the Queen with the award of a baronetcy (he became Lord Boleyn-Green of Durbal) and a gift of £50,000. He also became an non-executive director of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

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BRITISH AFRO-ASIAN COLONIAL COMPANY
The main exploration and colonial exploitation company in the Empire.
Founded by the then Honourable Archibald Creep as means by which he could fund his expeditions to Africa and Asia. Sir Archibald Creep is the current Chairman and majority shareholder of the Company, and its other shareholders include Sir Cedric Knowgoode, the Earl of Blackheath, and Mr. George Sidebotham.

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C

CHARIVARI, SIR LOUDON
Senior diplomat and British Resident in Durbal.
Sir Loudon was installed as British Resident in Durbal after the successful invasion of Gaziristan and the capture of Durbal by British troops led by Sir Hector Boleyn-Green. Sir Loudon, who was a man of refined tastes, found the bluff, soldierly Sir Hector rather too bluff and soldierly, and within weeks of arriving in Durbal he moved the British Residency from the Bella Histar to a walled house inside the city. This was guarded by a small detachment of British troops.

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CHINDIA
British Possession.
First discovered by the Portuguese. For centuries the major European countries vied with each other to control the lucrative trade links with Chindia, but after the Napoleonic Wars Britain began to dominate both the trade and the Chindian rulers. After several successful military campaigns the British conquered most of Chindia, and by 1850 most of the local Chindian rulers had signed treaties with the British Government. These treaties handed political, economic, judicial, and military power over to the British in return from sizeable annual payments to the rulers and their families. Chindia is administered for the Crown by the Chindia Office in London, and there is a Viceroy resident in the capital. The main power, however, lies with the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company which owns the rights to almost everything.

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CHINDU MOUNTAINS
The main mountain range in the North West of Chindia.
The Chindu Mountains form a natural barrier between Chindia and Gaziristan. The can only be easily traversed by travellers via the Jakzi and Kybosh Passes.

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CREEP, SIR ARCHIBALD, Bt.
Explorer, hunter, and millionaire.
He is the Chairman and principal shareholder of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company. He resides in London during the rainy season and on his estate in up-country Dammallia for the rest of the year.

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CREEP, LADY VICTORIA
Wife of Sir Archibald Creep.
Lady Victoria is the youngest daughter of the Earl of Blackheath, and is reputed to be the best female shot in the Empire.

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D

DURBAL
The capital of Gaziristan.

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DURBAL KHEL
Clan of the Jowka tribe.

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DURBAL PLATEAU
Central plateau between the inner and outer ranges of the Chindu Mountains.
The capital of Gaziristan - Durbal - is situated in the centre of the plateau that bears its name. The area is the main grazing area in Gaziristan, and most of the goats eaten by the Gaziris are bred there. The plateau is also the home of Durbal Khel, Durbalzai, and Khomekal clans of the Jowka tribe.

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DURBALZAI
Clan of the Jowka tribe.

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E

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© Robert George Cordery (2005)