Page 323 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND TIIE MASK AT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1909. 23
definite arrangement, and in spring he denied having official responsibility in
regard to it.
A Governor eventually made his appearance in the person of Haji Saif-
ud-Daulah, brother of the Ain-ud-Daulah, and grandfather of the wife of
Sheikh Khazal, who arrived at Nasiri on 6th November.
He has spent his time since his arrival as the Sheikh’s guest, and has
shown not the slightest sign of life, let alone activity.
21. The course of events in Northern Arabistan during the year was in
the main uneventful. The principal exception was the struggle between
Sheikh Haidar of the A1 Kathir and Sheikh Farhan Assad of the Bait Sa’ad
Arabs. The peace was broken in April, and in the hostilities which follow­
ed Sheikh Haidar, with the assistance of the Sagwand Lurs, established his
superiority.
It is probable that he had the support, or at least the assent, of Sheikh
Khazal, who had previously forbidden him to resort to arms to avenge the
constant outrages and robberies which were perpetrated on his followers by
the raiding parties of Sheikh Farhan.
In June Sheikh Farhan was forced to flee, and the first place he sought
refuge at was *Gotwand. Thence he was induced to come and see Sheikh
Khazal, and the latter allotted him land opposite Wais, but he made off to
Gotwand again, and later re-established himself at Deli Nau in his former
position. Again forced to flee he threw himself on the hospitality of the
Beni Turuf, whom he incited to rebel against the Sheikh of Mohamraerah.
Eventually on the collapse of the Beni Turuf rebellion he again came in to
Sheikh Khazal, and he has now with the latter’s consent, come to anchor with
Seyyid N’ama in the neighbourhood of Kut Nahr Hashim. No successor to
him in the chieftainship of the tribe has as yet made his appearance, and he
himself will find few to regret his banishment.
At the end of the year Haidar’s son Abbas, and Talib, son of Khurraibat,
who had been held by Sheikh Khazal as hostages since the spring of 1907,
were set at liberty.
22. Pending and subsequent to their intervention in the quarrel between
Haidar and Farhan the Sagwand in the Dizful district behaved in the;r usual
obstreperous manner and amused themselves with plundering the Dizfulis’
crops and property. Eventually Hussain Khan was sent tor by Sheikh
Khazal, ana some arrangement was made by which he was to receive pay in
consideration for keeping up a police force, and maintaining order. This
arrangement does not, however, appear to have ever borne any practical
fruit.
23. In December the charge of the Dizful-Shushter road was taken from
Yawar Khan, Bakhtiari, to whom in recent years it has generally been en­
trusted, and was made over to Baqir Khan, the Shuster Kalantar, brother
of the notorious Kazim Khan who was done to death by the Sardar Mukarram.
The read has never been very secure, but Baqir Khan is much less capable
of making it so than the man he replaces.
24. Dizful.—There have at times been the usual quarrels between the
principal personages of the town which have resulted in the customary minor
operations, but they have not b£cn of sufficient interest to merit dbtailed
notice.
The factions were represented by Asad Khan on one side and Agha Ali,
Immad-ud-Daftar, on the other.
Asad Khan represented the authority of Sheikh Khazal and has lately
been replaced by the Nizam-ul-Ayala, who has been appointed Deputy
Governor by Haji Saif-ud-Dowleh.
25. Shushter.—The Deputy-Governorship was held by Mirza Tahir
Khan, Mustaufi, on behalf of the Sheikh, till relieved in December by the Mir
Akhur of the new Governor by name Yadullah.