Page 62 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911_Neat

62 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON TIIR PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

His Highness Ain-ul-Mulk was appointed Deputy Governor of Korman
and His Highness Adil-ud-Dowlah, Waiir. These'are both brothers to HU
llighnoss Rukn-ud-Dowlah.
The Mullah Mohamod Reza had instructed his disciplos to destroy
certain liquor shops in the bazaar. The owners complained to the Governor
who took steps to arrest, the offenders. The latter, however, had succeeded in
taking bast, or refuge, with the Mujtehid who declined to give them up.
Troops were then sent who seizod the Mullah together with the offenders and*
took them to the Palace where they were all bastinadoed.
The Mullah with his band of hope were then escorted out of Kerman by
Asfandiar Khan, chief of the Buchakchi tribe, and some of his men, and were
sent to Rahinjan. (The chief himself was released from prison on the
occasion.) Four men were killed and some more wounded in making the
arrest.
Two facts were brought to prominent notice in tbe ooursc of these dis­
turbances. (1) That the Kerman is are not really fanatically inclined. They
are a weak and servile-population easily led by their mischievous and arrogant
priesthood, and as easily dispersed by a show of force, and the power of the
Mullahs themselves is consequently not of a nature to withstand any severe
strain put on it. (2) The principle of bast, similarly, could, it appeared, be set
aside on occasion without exciting any outburst of popular indignation. As
regards this most pernicious system it should perhaps be explained that it
constitutes the Consulates, the houses of Mullahs, and in some cases even
of European private gentlemen and ladies places of temporary refuge for
offenders against the laws and customs of their country.
On the 1st November the Sarkar Agha, head of the Sheikhi sect, was
grossly insulted while preaching in his Mosque, a donkey arrayed with a
turban being pushed amongst the audience. The Agba on the representation
of the Governor left Kerman the next day for Bagliin, one march distant.
Dissensions arose at this time amongst the Balasiris themselves, their
women taking side in the matter.
A telegram denouncing the Sheik his was at this time receired from
Kerbela, and a meeting was held by the leading men of Kerman at which the
Shah and his Government were openly reviled, Russia being held up to ad­
miration as a country determined on reform at all costs. The want of leaders
in the case of Persia was recognised as fatal.
The Governor left for Tehran in the end of November, nominally to see
the Shah in person regarding affairs in Kerman.
Captain Haworth left for India at the same time, but Colonel Stewart,
his successor, was detained both in Bombay and Bunder Abbas, and only
reached Kerman on the 10th January one month after he had expected to
arrive.
On his arrival he fouod that the Adil-us-Sultana had been appointed to
officiate as Governor, pending the arrival of the Fcrman Ferma from Kerman-
shah. The disturbances had. by this time practically died out probably owing
to tbe effect of the vigorous action taken by the then Governor, and the sub­
sequent removal from Kerman of the head priests of the rival factions.
Nothing, however, could be effected as regards the transaction of urgmt
business, all references on such subjects being met with the reply that the
matter must await the Ferman Ferma’s arrival.
A matter which has since assumed importance from the notice given it
in the Russian Press consisted in the arrival of a certain Prince Amatum,
described by M. Miller an the right hand man of the Grand Duke Michac.
Michaelovitch, on a Commercial Mission. He travelled from Kerman via o&ns
to Bunder Abbas, holding meetings of the local merchants in Kerman an
Bam. No great enthus-iasm seems to have been excited by his advent, tnoug
tbe Russian Consul M. Miller's efforts were added to his own.
In February the Russian Consul M. Miller was ordered to proceed to
Tehran as Secretary to the Legation. He was succeeded in due course „