Page 222 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

38 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
They were informed that they could only hope to obtain our assistance in
the matter by first meeting the claims which had prevented them. Subse­
quently it was decided to take punitive measures against the Kuhcnlu.
Kumour stated that the Persian Government had given its consent hut this
was denied by the Khans.
bother with or without permission the Snmsam and Snrum ontered the
Kuluralu territory with a I'orco in February. Offirially ibis force numbered
12,( 00 fighting men, but there is good roason to believe that it did not exceed
2,000 men all told, including n largo number of non-combatants.
Some operations were undertaken against a ] etly Chief of the Dushmnn-
ziai i, and accounts of gr< at successes were industriously disseminated.
Tho Chiefs returned to Bamuz in March, and beyond some pacific nego­
tiations and securing of a hostage of some impoitnnce, who was subsequently
released, it would not seem that they had accomplished anything.
41. Mention has already been made of ihe appointment of Pakhtiaris to
tho Deputy Governorships of Shnshter and Dizful under the control of Sheikh
Khaza’J, and again of the actit n taken by tho Shahnb and Salar in rcgaid to
Dizful and the Sagwand.
The latter did not meet with the approval of the Sbcikh Khaza’l, who was
rendered further anxious by a quarrel which arose recently between the Khans
and his troublesome protc«6 Sheikh Farhan Asad of the Bait Sa’ad.
42. In autumn when at Ispahan, the Vice-Consul was apprised of a design
on the part of the religions chiefs and extempore rulers of Ispahan to get
the Khans into trouble with the ultimate objoct of having the section of the
Chaharmahal administered by them removed from their control and added to
the Ispahan Governorship.
In present day Persia it would be impossible for anyone who did not
directly control the Bakhtinri tribes to establish the slightest degree of security
in these districts. With the exception of one man of considerable influence
who owns the village of Chalshutur and is stated to he disaffected to tho Khans,
it is questionable wher.her the population affected would welcome any
possible alternative to the present regime. The Ispahan Mullahs are, however,
encouraging the institution of local “ Anjurnans” in the neighbouring districts
and the insidious and illusory notions of popular government may seize on
the imagination of the Khans’ subjects. There is little to commend in the
Khans’ administration, but it is at least preferable, to the anarchy qualified by
unauthorised tyranny which appears to he the only likely substitute for it,
43. It is practically certa’n that Bakhtiaris indirectly controlled by the
Samsam were responsible for the parlous state of brigandage which existed
from June to August on the ]spah an-Tehran road and in the Ispahan
district. According to Persian wont this led to a pioposal from head-quarters
that the Samsam should be given charge of the road.
The necessary negotiations had almost, been completed when they were
upset by the assassination of tho Atabog Azam. Subsequently, however, the
protection of the road was, according to report, made over to the Muntaz2im-
ud-Daulah, the Samsam’s nephew, with results which are unknown.
44. The relations of the Khans with tho Central Government, as usual in
recent years, were perplexed by their domestic feuds and quarrels, with which
they are inextricably involved.
In the struggle between the Samsam and Sahab tbe influence of the Shujd-
ul-Sultan with the Shah was much brought into play, and a prolonged attempt
was made to establish the domination of his own family and secure me
exclusion of the other.
It is generally believed, however, that tho Atabeg’s sympathies loy
the Sardar Asad’s family, and that the Samsam, as the only representativei oi
that family then in the Bakhtiari country, enjoyed his secret support and
encouragement.
Since their reconcilement and the death of the Atabcg, and ^
resulting in some degree from both of these causes, the minds of