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297- B. The Arabs had all dosccnded from the high ground and while some
woro occupied with tho passengers on shore, tho rest fired into the body of tho
ship, killing two women passengers and wounding another and damaging the
wood-work and funnel to tho value of about fifty pounds. Ten men withdrawn
daggers camo closo to tho gangway and tho soldiers began parleying
with their leader to allow time for tho passengers to get out of tho way.
Tho master and two deckmcn with rifles were posted iu tho engine-room
and tho guard of nine soldiers wero also ready. Tho leader of tho Arabs was
calling to his men to rush tho ship and about twenty moro Arabs wero coming
up when the crew and soldiers fired, killing tho leader and apparently two
others. The robbers then fled, carrying off their wounded except tho body of
tho loader. The Arabs fired again from a distance and shots were exchanged
up till 10-30 r.M. The soldiers kopt. watoh all night, firing if anything moved ;
no furthor attack was made, and in the morning the S/mshan proceeded to
Aluvaz taking the corpse of the leader of the Arabs, which was handed to the
representative of tho Sardar Arfa for identification. Mr. Maclurc considered
that tho soldiers under Mahomed Hassan Wakilbasbi actod admirably and
saved the vessel from being takou. There wore ten thousand krans in specie
on board. It is believed that there were six Arabs killed and three wounded,
and there is little doubt that they belonged to the Baunat section of the
Khasraj tribe. Some nights later Arabs wero seen at Aluvaz watching tho
Shushaji and as Mr. Maclure had previously resigned, Messrs. Lynch allowed
him to leave at ouco, thinking his life might to in danger (Mr. McDouall’s
No. 1, dated 27th April).
298. At this time there was practically no Persian Governor in Arabistan.
Prince Salar-ed-Dowlali had been dismissed and his successor, Azam-es-
Sultaneli, did not arrive till July 1904
298- A. Consequent on the outrage on tho Shuaha?iy tho Persian Govern­
ment, on the representation of Sir A. Hardinge, requested the Sardar Arfa to
restore order and undertake the preservation of order throughout Arabistan
until the arrival of the newly appointed Governor, for which purpose a troop of
four hundred Arab horse was despatched to Shuster and Dizful, some sixty of
whom were stationed at Sheleilieh, and an escort given to the steamer. Order
was restored throughout the province : but the Sardar Arfa received no return
for those services from the Persian Government, except the thanks of tho Shah
contained in a letter from tho principal Minister. His Excellency was put to
considerable expense for the river patrols and other police measures within his
own jurisdiction, which had never been imposed on his predecessors and he statod
that he could not afford to spond money outside his own jurisdiction for which
tbero was no return.
298-B. On the arrival of Azam-es-Sultaneh, Governor-General of Arabis­
tan, at the beginning of July 1904 the Arab horsemen wero withdrawn from
Dizful and Shuster, hut at the request of the Governor, the Sardar Arfa agreed
to continue tho protection of tho Ahwaz-Shelcilieh route until the Azam-es-
Sultaneh had time to communicate with Tehran on the subject; and it is
understood that lie recommended that tho Sardar’s guards should he continued
and some payment made for their services. The Imperial Government had, it
appears, ordered tho Azam-es-Sultaueh to do all that is necessary to secure tho
safety of the Ahwaz Sheleilieh route ; but sanctioned no expenditure for the
purpose. The Azam-es-Sultaneh had only eighty horsemen of tho Shah-sevend
Turks as a personal guard and about fifty “ Karasuran ” or local road guards ;
if he used the latter for Sheleilieh there will he none available for otlur routes.
Ho was promised a regiment of infantry ; hut they are supposed to bo of little
use for this purpose.
298-C. Tho Sardar Arfa although somewhat averse to employing his men
continually outside his own jurisdiction, would ho prepared to continue to guaran­
tee the safety of tho Ahwaz-Sheleilieh route if all expenses wero guaranteed, and
these are estimated by tho Sheikh at at least one thousand tomans per mensem
or about rupees two thousand five hundred and sixty. (Mr. McDouall's No. 1,
April 1904 and Lieutenant Lorimer’s letter No. 43, 22nd July 1901.)