Page 433 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR lOOD. 23

was generally believed. He was supported by horsemen from all the lead­
ing sections including the very important Shishbuluki, whose chief, Ahmed
Khan, is father-in-law of Sowlet’s rival, Zeigham-ed-Dowleh, and was con­
sidered to be a devoted adherent of the latter. It is also to be noted that the
flow of bloodthirsty and excited proclamations from Sowlet’s camp ceased
completely after his interview with Mr. Christmas, and his threats of re­
prisals against the Kawami partisans remained entirely unexecuted, a change
of attitude which I am inclined to attribute very largely to the arrival of the
British detachment, providing as it did a very timely and salutary reminder
that there were other forces to be considered besides the local partisans.
The interregnum which ensued was, as usual, quite peaceful in Shiraz
itself, although tho province was overrun by robbers in every direction, and
nothing worthy of note occurred until the arrival of Saham-ed-Dowleh on
September 20th.
As already noted, he tackled the outstanding local questions with great
energy and as far as the town was concerned with complete success. He was
never on good terms with Sowlet, who had apparently expected a much meeker
attitude on the part of the Governor-General, and the latter’s position grew
progressively worse as Sowlet’s insubordination became more evident. None
the less, the position appeared at one time so favourable, that all arrangements
were made for the withdrawal of the British detachment, which was to start
on November 14th. On the 13th. however, as a result of a violent quarrel
between the Governor-General and Shaikh-ul-Mulk, the newly arrived Rais-i-
Adliyyeh or President of the Provincial Court of Justice, Saham telegraphed
to Tehran insisting that cither he or bis antagonist must resign. The ques­
tion dragged on and was expanded by Saham-ed-Dowleh into a demand for
permission to expend all Fars revenues on local purposes including the rais­
ing of troops, and it became clear that a serious crisis had been reached. The
Karguzar went so far as to write privately urging me to keep the detachment
for the time being, and it was decided to postpone their departure at least
until after their winter clothing had been received from Busliire. The
situation in the town improved slightly as the result of the transfer of Shaikh-
ul-Mulk to Ispahan, but nothing beyond vague promises was obtained from
the Central Government in response to the further demands of the Governor-
General. On the 24th, the very grave event already alluded to occurred, the
caravan accompanying M. Passek and Kadloubousky, the Russian Consul-
General and his Assistant, on their way to Bushire, being subjected to a heavy
fire near Khan-i-Zinian and looted, one Russian Cossack being killed and
one Russian and two Persian Cossacks being wounded. On receiving the
news with a request from M. Passek for medical assistance, I at once left with
Dr. Woollatt, 12 sowars of the Consulate and 29 Persian Cossacks, and the
whole party was brought in safely on the 25th. The body of the Cossack
was buried with full military honours on the 26th, the Governor accompany­
ing the cortege as far as the town and the Karguzar being present through­
out the ceremony, in which the whole of the British detachment took part.
The arrangements were made by Lieutenant Lang at M. Passek’s request and
the ceremony, which passed off without a hitch, attracted much attention in
the town, and unquestionably produced a good effect.
Meanwhile, the pilgrims who had formed part, of the caravan, and had
in many cases lost all they possessed, were very justifiably besieging the
Governor-General with petitions for the recovery of their property, and the
party hostile to the Governor-General seized the opportunity to excite popu­
lar feeling against him. This came to a head on the 28th when a large crowd
demanded the instant execution of a policeman who was alleged to have shot
a man improperly in the street. This being refused, several shots were fired
and a scene of great confusion ensued, during which Saham-ed-Dowlch
escaped from the Palace on foot, leaving his private apartments to be looted
by the mob. The latter however were easily dispersed by a few shots being
fired in the air by Cossacks from an adjacent tower, and Saham returned.
This incident dealt a heavy blow to his personal prestige, which was all he
had to depend upon.