Page 135 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY TOR 1900-1007. 31

After this, stronger pressure was brought to bear on the Samsara and advan­
tage taken of the Shahab’s eompromisal to force them to provide guards for the
C ps and take steps to repress crime. This has had considerable effect, and for the
cum
time being the situation is better than it has been yet.
35. Trouble is always to be anticipated from the Samsam, over whose men­
tal vagaries it is impossible to establish any effective hold, but for the moment he
has fallen into line in supplying guards in spite of his very tall and violent talk at
Ramuz, where he swore steadily for nearly three weeks that if we pressed our de­
mands and did not give in to his, he would refuse further responsibility and formally
throw up all connection with the affairs of the Syndicate.
To anticipate what properly should appear in next year’s report, the Samsara
has since plucked up heart again and returned by letter to the question of the addi­
tional £500 and payment in gold; but this was only to be expected.
36. The Almaz-Ispahan Road.—Messrs. Lynch Brothers’ interests as effect­
ed by the Ahwaz-Ispahan Road have also during the year been a subject of official
discussion and correspondence with the Khans.
In spring on pressure exerted by the Legation to induce the Khans to improve
the state of upkeep of the road the latter gave promises to have it thoroughly
overhauled. Little or nothing however had been done when the Vice-Consul
travelled up the road in June. At Ohighakhor the Salar Arfa’ represented that he
was then in the beginning of July despatching men to repair the road, and that
orders were being issued to remove the restriction by which muleteers are com­
pelled to buy supplies only from the farmers of the caravansarais. Subsequently
from references made by the Legation it was ascertained that the Khans at Tehran
were asserting that the road had been thoroughly overhauled and that they accept­
ed that it should be inspected and reported on in regard to the state of the track,
caravansarais and bridges, and that defects reported by the Vice-Consul would be
removed.
The Vice-Consul addressed the Sam6am on the subject at Shalamzar in the
middle of October, a reply in writing was obtained that the road had been put in
thorough repair, but that it wTas possible that it had again been damaged by the
downward passage of the tribes and that defects pointed out would be remedied.
The Vice-Consul then travelled down the road and subsequently had to report
that the evidences of work done on it were very slight, and that no action had been
taken as regards the caravansarais, which were all in a dilapidated condition and
insufficient in number.
A detailed report of work considered necessary was drawn up and despatched
to the Khans. It is said that the report was subsequently divided up into sections
and handed over for action to various men of authority in the different localities
concerned. Further inspection and report will be made in the course of a month
or two.
Both in the Oil affairs and in those of the road the Khans have openly reveal­
ed their guiding policy which is merely to extract the maximum of money possible
and expend the minimum, or if possible, none. This receives corroboration out
of the mouths of their own people and all who know them.
37. The question of supplying the Khan3 with a British Medical Practitioner,
which has been considered on various occasions during the past few years, was
definitely discussed at Chighakhor with the Salar Arfa’ by Captain Crossle, I.M.S.
The upshot was that the Khans declared that the heavy expenses incurred
during the year made it impossible for them to discuss the project with any view
of putting it immediately into effect. It is believed that Captain Crossle has re­
ported on the aspects of the case as :-egards the eligibility of the billet from the
point of view of a British Medical Practitioner. It is doubtful whether any such
arrangements if carried out would not be more productive of trouble and misunder­
standing than of contentment and of gratitude on the part of the Khans.
THE KUHGALU.
38. The Kuhnalu.—This tribe, inhabiting for the most part the hills beyond
the eastern border of the Bakhtiaris, are nominally subject to tho ^governing
authority of Bchbahan, who in turn is subordinate to the Government of Fars