Page 137 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

I
|;
POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOK 1606-1007. 33
44. Thereafter the Salar projected coming down with the Sagwand of Fazil
Khan and Hassan Gidaw, as an escort, to Saimara and Ja’idar, and in February I
there were circumstantial reports of his presence at Qilab and of his immediate
intention of raiding Arabistan. The official authorities however now describe
these reports as “canards.”
The Salar is said to have recently taken to wife a daughter of the Fath i Sul­
tan, of the Dilfan who was formerly his arch-enemy. The latest rumours, which
probably carry back to the events of March, make out that he has gone to Tarhon, .!
the Fath i Sultan’s head-quarters, and that in view of the enmity of the authori­
ties is contemplating a retreat into Turkish Arabia. !
45. The limit of the period under review may be overstepped by a few days
to say that on the 18th April 1007 the Sardar Mukarram received a telegram in­
vesting him with the Governorship of Luristan. I
The matter had for some time been under discussion, but the Government had
refused to agree to the terms which the Sardar wras demanding—a sufficiency of
troops, and financial assistance.
46. The Sagirand.—Fazil Khan and Hassan Gidaw on the return to power of
their old patron the Salar ud Daulah quitted Arabistan to attach themselves to
him. Early in 1907 however they found their hopes disappointed, and Hassan
Gidaw declared his intention oi deserting the Salar and coming down to Arabistan,
which he did.
The time was not ill-judged for turning his coat. He is now dancing attend­
ance on the Sardar Mukarram.
Khanjan’s fortunes have been already described. He played a bold game
in finally coming in to the -Sardar at Shushter in May and accepting employment
from him. but the results on the whole have been satisfactory and the alternative
of remaining liable to the stigma of being a rebel, would bave had serious conse­
quences.
Khanjan Khan's visit to the Sardar Aria’ at the same time was well judged, as
it gave the corroboration of personal acquaintance to a merely favourable inclina­
tion on the part of the Sardar.
The visit, was repeated again in January. He remains unaltered in his desire
to obtain employment in our service.
47. No noticeable displacement of power arnnn* tbe tribes of Luristan appears
to have taken place during the year : unless it be the absorption of the section of
Sagwand which formerly followed the leadership of Mihr Ali Khan.
4S. External.—Correspondence has been kept up during the year with the
Khurramabad Merchant Mirza Ali Akbar. He has been employed as Agent by
Messrs. Lynch Brothers who have sent him, from time to time, goods via Ispahan
for sale on commission. He has on several occasions complained of tampering
with letters on the part of the Persian Post Office and reference was made by this
Vice-Consulate to the Legation at the instance of Messrs. Lynch Brothers. Lately
since the return of the Salar ud Daulah, he has fallen on evil times and has gone to
Tehran where Messrs. Lynch Brothers, and eventually the Legation, have moved
in his favour.
49. No progress has been made with the question of the Dizful-Khurramabad
Road, and the idea of instituting a temporary caravan route via Pusht i Kuh and
Saimara, having been regarded with disfavour by His Britannic Majesty's Govern­
ment, has been abandoned.
Commercial communication between the provinces of Iraq and Arabistan has
remained entirely intercepted.
50. The awakening of interest on the part of Russians in this part of the coun­
try has been notified by the appointment of a native Agent at Khurramabad.
Mirza Abdul Ali. Kermanshahi, the Agent appointed, came from Kermanshah,
and the post, is probably supervised by the Russian Consul at the latter place.
In the middle of December a Russian visited Burujird. Various conjectures
were current as to the objects of his visit, the most probable being that he had come
U> examine the local conditions in connection with a possible extension of the
Kazvra-Ramadan Road to Burujird.
3147 P. D.