Page 206 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

22 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
RESIDENCY
the leir; and both tltoso nets of violence being attributed to the direct
instigation of Motamid-ud-Divnn, it was with the greatest ditlioulty that
Mr. Graham c managed to satisfy the Qavamis bv extracting from the
governing nonentity a promise to keep Mot tmid ud-Divan in custody until
a full enquiry had been held. Public sympathy, however, was soon diverted
lrom the Qavamis to their victims, one of whom, Sayed Ahmad Uasliiaki, who
was accused of the attempt on Salar-os-Sultan, was not only killed on tho
spot, but his body burnt and his bones thrown into a well, an outrage on tho
blood of the prophet of which the Qavamis were destined to hear a good deal
more. The other victim, who was killed in tho fighting on the same ^occasion,
boro an even more sacred character, being a Mujtabid of some repute, Sheikh*
-Muhammad 13aqir by name. The obsequies of the latter were the scene of
a vigorous counter-demonstration. This, however, closed the scenes of actual
violence in Shiraz for this year, the news of the appointment of His Imperial
Highness Zil-es-Sultan arriving on the 19th March.
Nomad tribog.
The year was a stormy one for the Qashgais owing to contests for the
office of Ilkhaui. On May 1st, Soulet-cd-Doulch was superseded, by order of
the Governor-General, by Asaf-ul-
Qnslignis.
Sultaneh whom Mr. Grahamc describes
“as a miserable, purblind abortion besotted with opium”, and who, not
unnaturally with these characteristics, did not succeed in imposing any
authority upon the tribe. On the following day Soulet*ed-Douleb arrived at
Shiraz with a number of followers and proclaimed himself an adherent of the
popular party, to whoso funds ho contributed SOU tomans promising at the
same time the support of 400 horsemen. On iho 8th May a battle took place
between the respective factions of Soulet-ed-Doulch and Zcigham.ed-Doulch
near Bayza at which 20 men appear to have been killed. As a result of this
Mirza Parajulla was deputed with 00 infantry to etfect a reconciliation; this
he duly accomplished and on the 24th of May Soulet-ed-Doulch and his
brother Zeigham-ed-Douleh came to terms, the former being recognised as
Ilkhani and the lattor receiving pecuniary compensation on condition that he
should refrain from all interferences in tribal alTairs. During June, Soulot-
ed-Doulcb distinguished himself by the assiduity with which he courted the
new Governor-General while liis tribesmen were busily occupied in laying waste
all the country around Bavza. In October, SouIet-cd-D >uleh received at
Bayza a visit from Mirza Hussein Khan, son of Nizam-es Sultanoh, who wa9
accompanied by Motamid-ud-Divan. On the departure of Nizam-es-Sultanch
he reappeared in Shiraz politics remaining himself at Chenari Bahdar about
10 miles from Shiraz but assisting the popular party with a large body of
tribesmen. At the same time the road to Kazeroon was rendered unsafe by
the depredations of the Qashgais. On the 8th November Soulet-ed-Douleh
finally withdrew from Shiraz politics for the year thus removing the most
dangerous element.
The history of the Arabs is more peaceful. Nasr-ed-Doulch ceased to be
ltais-i-Arab on his departure to Tehran in
Arabs.
May. He was succeeded by Amir
Agha Khan, Mansour-es-Sultaneh, who was in bis turn dismissed at the end
of"the same month. It being rumoured that the Governor-General proposed
to appoint Mutamid-ud-Divan to this post tho Arab headmen promptly too '
hast in the office of tho Indo-European Telegraph Deparimcnt at Hehbi
whence they despatched a telegram of protest to Mr. Grahamo, which was
forwarded by him to the Governor-General. This proceeding had the desire
elTcct, and Amir Aglia Khan was reinstated in the position which he occupiot
until the close of the year, without however being able to prevent the tu
from committing depredations on a large scale in the neighbourlioo
Sivand.
An expedition was projected by Mr. Grabame in September with a view
1 to increasing our knowledge of tho
Kulignlu. country occupied by this tribe. He *
however, barely entered their territory, when his camp wns rob )o of
buccessive nights, one horse, two rifles and some two hundred