Page 229 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR T1IE YEAR 1007 1008. 45
quarters in a fort just outsido the town. Tho Sardar with his various
supporters soon capitulated and he was removed and confined in tho house
of tho Imam J'uma, and council was taken to put him to death. In tho
meantime the Sagwand Chiefs wero released and joined tho Fateh us-Sultan,
who issued a manifesto to tlic Sagwand who had remained down in Arabistan.
In this manifesto ho indicated the intention of organising a general advance
against tho Waliof Pusht-i-Kuh.
This dream was not, however, to bo realised. The Sardar Mukarram,
thrown on his wits, succeeded in addressing a letter to the townspeople point­
ing out the terrible consequences which would accruo to tho town were
his sacred person abused.
The argument was taken up’ by one Mullah Rashid to such good
purposo that, the people rose, released and reinstated the Sardar, demolished
liis late prison, and imprisoned the Imam Juma. Some shooting took place,
and the Fateh-us-Sultan and tho Sagwand Khans, seeing tho town now against’
them, fled with their followers.
Tho Sardar has since remained to all appearance firmly reinstalled at
least in his local authority.
64. Tho only fact that remains to be chronicled is the death of Khanjan.
He arrived in March in the course of his wanderings at Bairanwand camp
in tho Chingai country, where he sickened and died. Rumours of foul play
were at first current and connected his death with the presence in the camp
of a daughter of his old rival Melir Ali Khan, who was poisoned by the Salar-
ud-Daulah.
Later accounts say, however, that be had been suflmng for some days
from severe fever, and that his death was due entirely to this na'uial cause.
Bowcver caused, Khanjan’s death is cnly to be deeply regretted. Be
was a man of great vitality and force of character rendered attractive by
a certain personal charm.
Though lacking the superficial knowledge of the affairs of the outer
world which passes tor culture in Persia, ho was wide-minded and had the
wisdom and sagacity which are horn of a practical and intimate experience
of men under strenuous circumstances, and is not to he gained by a mere
indifferent acquaintance, howover extensive, lie had a practical talent for
affairs and the control of men, combined with a sincerity and good faith,
and enlightened ambitions which made him strangely unique in Luristan
and would have rendered him happily conspicuous in more favourable
surroundings.
He has passed away in his prime as his age probably did not much
exceed 45 years, and the BiitMi Government has lost one who was anxious
to serve it and whose service, had the occasion arisen to use it, would have
formed a happy contrast to the cankered fidelity of our time-honoured friends
the Bakhtiari Khans. In this country everything depends on the character
of individuals and the occurrence of relative probity and sincerity is rare
beyond belief. The whole race is infected with avarice to winch parentage
may he traced the had faith, corruption and majority of other vices which
go to form the serious side of the Persian character.
65. The Luriatan Road Scheme.—The Luristan road scheme has not
come forward during tho year in any practical form.
The professed interest of the Sardar Mukarram in the opening of a route
between Dizful and Khurramabad has already been referred to. It remains
to mention that tho Muin-ut-Tujjar approached the Legation on the subject
with a proposal that the Persian Transport Company should make over its
rights to him or to a company orgunised by him.
He represented that the influence he could oxert on tho Majlis and the
fact of his being n Persian would make it possible for him to render the
concession workable, which it was impossible lor a Foreign Company
to do.