Page 345 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

ANI) THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1900. 45
of the Kalhor tribe who took him two stages out of his way to Daud Khan
and his son Salar-i-ikbal. The latter thinking that orders were being sent
to the Wall, under cover of my seal, to proceed against the Kalhors and
punish them, opened the letters and read them. Owing to the state of the
country and want of any strong Government it has been impossible to get
any redress for this action even after reference to Tehran, but punishment
must be given sooner or later.
In November, the Kalhor chief gave his support to the pretension of
Iiabibullah Khan, the direct heir to the chicfship of the Sinjabis. The
Kalhor tribe who had made friends with the Sinjabis in the beginning of
the year, were once more at enmity with them. It has been mentioned that
detachments of both tribes were despatched to the assistance of the Shah at
Tehran. On lining up for the Shah’s inspection, the Sinjabis put them­
selves in the place of honour. This the Kalhors, who are by far the larger
and more important tribe, refused to permit. The Sinjabis replied that
theirs was the post of honour, since the Sinjabi tribe was allowed sowar?
by Government, which sowars they represented, whereas the Kalhovs were only
represented by a fool regiment, therefore the Sinjabi horsemen being regulars
had the right of precedence of the Kalhor sowars who were temporary irre­
gular levies. Neither would give way and the result was a fight on the
spot. The Shah was excessively annoyed and the chief of the Kalhor party
was imprisoned, but was subsequently released and taken into high favour.
Since this date the old enmity between the two tribes has been resuscitated.
Slier Khan, Samsam-ul-mamalck, had been for many years chief of the
tribe and a very efficient chief, but a certain section of the tribe was dis­
contented with him. Accordingly, when so powerful a chief as Daud Khan
gave his assistance to Habibullah Khan, the whole of the Sinjabis went
over to the winning side and Slier Khan was forced to fly, although he was
Governor of Kasr-i-shirin. lie, unfortunately, subsequently, took bast with
Daud Khan which completely cut away the feet from under his friends,
who were using all their influence with the Government at Tehran. Habi­
bullah Khan seized the Government of Kasr.
In the meantime, however, Samsam-ul-mamalek’s son who was on his
way back from Tabriz, where lie had with his detachment, formed part of
the royal forces, returned to Tehran, and, apparently, succeeded in working
up some influence against Daud Khan; the people of the town also, who had
done much telegraphing on account of all they had sulTercd from the hands
of this man, no doubt assisted. At any rate orders came that Samsam-ul-
mamalck was to be reinstated and the Governor was ordered to proceed
against Daud Khan.
Zahir-ul-mulk gathered together an army by calling in a certain number
of his own regiment, collecting some sowars of the Kuliai tribe and gathering
as many sowars as he could out of the town. On Christmas day lie held a
grand review, which was certainly an improvement on anything that has
ever been seen in Kermanshah. The artillery paraded and did some very
respectable practice sufficient to show that if they were trained, they might
make very passable artillery men. They were keen on their work, but there
was, as may lie expected, no discipline, and the Sergeant-Major waylaid the
Commandcr-in-Chief on his way back to the tents to ask for a “ khillat ” for
his excellent shooting.
The army was finally disbanded without having moved against Daud
Khan.
Ilabihullah Khan paid a bribe to the Governor, was confirmed in his
position and Daud Khan arranged matters by similar means. Thus, as usual,
no one suffered except the villages which had been looted and the people of
Kermanshah. At the time of writing, Samsam-ul-mamalck is in bast in the
telegraph office.
The town continues with Zahir-ul-mulk as Governor; he is powerless to
use any fora since, though Governor to-day he mav be only the chief of a