Group of Farsiwans (1878-1880)

This image of a group of Parsiwans is from an album of rare historical photographs depicting people and places associated with the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Parsiwan, or “Persian speaker,” refers specifically to Afghans speaking Dari, or Afghan Persian, as opposed to Farsi, or Iranian Persian, although the two languages are mutually comprehensible. Most Parsiwans live in western Afghanistan in and around Herat. The men here are dressed in traditional style, with fine embroidery on their overcoats and pointed shoes.