Page 105 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

89
CHAPTER XI

Disturbed state of Arabistan (2). Attack ou the Shushan. (3) Measuros
for its protection, 1902-04.

293. Recently there have been repeated disturbances in Arabistan, especi­
ally on the banks of the upper Karun,
Scent E., July 1903, Noi. 279-235.
arising from the raids of the Khasraj
tribe. The Khasraj are noted marauders and originally belong to furbish
territory beyond the Kcrkah. They arc divided into nine independent sections
and are purely nomadic, having no regular ground for cultivation and are
consequent ly difficult to get at. During the wheat season members of the tribo
temporarily join other tribes. (Lcttor from Vice-Consul at Mohammcrali to the
Consul-General, Bush ire, No. '10, dated 27th May 1903.)
291. On 11th September 1902, Mr. King, master of the Shushan, reported
that, on tho night of 5th September, the Shushan was attacked by a band of forty
armed Arabs, who tired about seventy shots into the vessel killing a boy and
wounding a deckman, who was left in a dangerous condition ; and also a
soldier. The woodwork of the cabins was riddled with shot holes, and one
shot pierced the funnel. They then came on board and pillaged the cargo,
stole nearly all the cooking utensils and the crew’s personal effects. After
remaining on board about an hour, during which timo they made free of the
vessel, they decamped taking with them their booty. At the time of
the attack the steamer had a Persian guard of three soldiers, who were there
for the purpose of guarding the vessel, but these men fled on the approach of
the marauders.
295. The robbers who attacked the Shushan on 5th September 1902 were
said to belong to Sheikh Taki’s section of the Khasraj tribe.
296. The Aznm-es-Sultaneh, who was at the time Deputy Governor of
Arabistan, arranged for ten soldiers to accompany the steamer, and the Prince
Governor Salar-ed-Dowlah was reported to have arranged to send Bakhtiari levies
to put a stop to the robberies. No steps were taken by the Persian authorities
to punish the marauders. The Lieutenant Governor’s excuse was that the
Khasraj were Turkish subjects, and that it was useless his taking action on a
small scale, as the Prince Governor was going to send troops to restore order.
These troops never came.
297. The country round about upper Karun still continued to he disturbed
by the raids of the Khasraj and other tribes. The Azam-es-Sultaneh, who had
been Lieutenant-Governor of Arabistan under His Koval Highness Salar-ed-
Dowleh, resigned and left Arabistan in June 1903. The Sardar Arfa was
asked by the Prince Governor to restore order : in reply he stated that he
would do so if ho were given a free hand and an undertaking that lie would not
he called to account hereafter for any measures it might bo necessary to tako,
and asking for expenses. Nothing further was done : the local executive was
left in the hands of the Commandant of the forces, Yamin-en-Nizam. At the
time of the outrage on the Shushan this officer with tbo few troops under
his command was supporting the Sardar Arfa in connection with the Beni Truf
rebellion. This man soon loft the province with his troops. (Mr. McDouall's
No. 74, dated 25th August 1904, to Major Cox.)
297-A. The Shushan was again attacked by robbers on the evening of the
15th April 1904, while moored to the hank at Bender Sheleilieh the anchorage for
Shuster. According to information given by Mr. Maclure, master of the vessel,
about 8-30 p.m. fifty or sixty shots wore fired at the vessel from the high
ground. No reply could be made from the ship as there were intending passeq-
gors with raulos and donkeys on shore alongside tho vessel. The Arabs rushed
down on the passengers carrying off one mule and four donkeys ; the passougers
escaped to the other side of the river in cargo boats which wero lying there.