Page 35 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

RESIDENCY FOE THE YEAR 1005-1000. 25
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had been going about with a largo following contrary to the conditions
imposed on him. The real reason wus tho belief of His Imperial Highness
that the Chief was intriguing against him in collusion with the Kawam-ul-
Mulk. A. fortnight later, however, bis chains were removed and modified
liberty allowed the prisoner.
On 30th September the Shoa-es-Sultaneh, probably feeling that he lad
created bo much hostility towards himself in the minds of the people of Fare
that there would inevitably be an upheaval against him if he remained
longer, loft for Tehran and subsequently for Europe for the purpose of
consulting experts and undergoing an operation. He was aocompanied by
his enemy the Kawam as far as Tehran. "When he left Shiraz he was
believed to owe the Central Government the equivalent of more than 2$ lakhs
of rupees of revenue of which he had really realised upwards of half.
Shortly after his departure it became evident that the excesses of his
administration had becomo intolerable to the people of Fare and that a wide­
spread movement was now on foot to throw off the yoke and prevent his
return.
In the absence of the Prince himself the agitation was directed against !
his Vazier and accomplice the Sardar-i-Akram and about this time the British
Consulate was on several occasions approached with enquiries as to the amount
of support which could be expected from us. The mal-contents were from
all classes of the community and the Kawam was said to have charged bis
sons before he left not to allow any considerations for his personal safety in
Tehran to deter them from every possible effort to upset theSboa-es-Sultaneh’s
tyrannical Government.
From the moment of His Highness’s departure, Mirza Ibrahim, the leading
Mujtalied in Shiraz, held weekly meetings at bis house and on 17th November
Consul Grabaine reported that an agitation against the Vazier had also com­
menced and that the unrest existing in Shiraz was likely to spread to outlying
parts of the province. The weekly meetings at Mirza Ibrahim’s now became
nightly and were attended by all the clergy and leading merchants. They
appear to have been further incensed by the intimation that a Special Commis­
sioner from Tehran would he sent down to enquire into their grievances and a
few days later telegraphed to their comrades at Bushire urging the need for
their support by the suspension of all despatch of merchandise. 'This the
Bushire merchants accordingly did for a time as a protest against the in­
difference shown by the Central Authorities to the complaints of the people of
Fars generally. On 19th December a riot occurred at Kazeroon on the Bushire-
Shiraz road, brought about it was said owing to an excessive tax levied upon
opium. On 20th idem on hearing of the appointment as Special Commissioner
of the Vazier-i-Durbar, a creature of the Sardar-i-Akram, who had paid heavily
for his appointment, the clergy of Shiraz all adjourned to the Shah Chiragh
Mosque outside the town together with the merchants and the populace.
This appointment appears to have boen cancelled as soon as made but a Hish
Commissioner in the person of the Vazier-i-Makhsons arrived on 2tJth January.
His powers, however, were not definitely stated or known and meanwhile it
became evident from telegrams passing from the Shoa-es*Sultaneh to friends in
Shiraz, that His Highness had not given up the idea of returning to Shiraz ;
accordingly on the 29th the leaders of the populace informed the High Commis­
sioner that if they did not receive from Tehran within three days satisfactory
replies to their representations, they would resort to violence. On 6th February
the leaders who had only been dissuaded from doing so before by Mr. Grahame’s
tactful advice, finally expressed their intention of taking sanctuary in the Con­
sulate grounds and were with difficulty prevailed upon to have patience for two
days longer. On the Sth came the report that the Iqbal-ed-Dowleh had been
appointed Governor-General in the place of the Shoa-es-Sultaneh, and this
report, though it did not eventually take shape, had the effect of pacifying the
agitators for the time and there was general rejoicing followed by a deputation
to the British Consulate for the purpose of expressing the thanks of the popu­
lace for the assistance of His Majesty’s Legation to which they ascribed the
success of their representations.