Page 434 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TUB PERSIAN GULF
24
He spent the remainder of the year in fruitless negotiations with the
Central Government, in which he was consistently supported by the two
Consuls.
But as soon as it became clear that the Central authorities were unable
to force'Sowlet to accept the Governor-General's authority, and unwilling or
afraid to dismiss him, it was obvious that Sahara-ed-Dowleh’s regime was
doomed. Needless to say the Russian robbery went entirely unpunished, and it
was not clearly ascertained who the perpetrators were, although some of them
belong undoubtedly to the Boir Ahmadi section of the Kuhgelu. The year
thus closed with the gloomiest possible prospects for the future, the prestige
of the Persian authorities having been heavily damaged by the failure of
Saham-ed-Dowleh, a man far above the average of Govern^rs-General in both
character and ability, and the customary inviolability of foreign Consular
officers having been finally broken down.
It remains to be mentioned that Seyyid Abdul Husein, the Lari firebrand,
was sent for by the new Government to come to Tehran and explain his highly
sus picious proceedings, but he succeeded in arriving in Shiraz on November
ICtn, although the orders sent were to the effect that he was not to enter the
town. He’remained apparently in strict retirement until the close of the
year, although he received a secret visit from Nasr-ed-Dowleh, at which it is
probable that some cash changed hands. The departure of the Shiraz
deputies for Tehran should also be noted, although it attracted little atten­
tion and the validity of their election was subsequently questioned.
The prestige and self-confidence of this important tribe and of its leader
Sowlet-ed-Dowleh has increased greatly
Nomad tribes. KaefcgaU.
during the year. As already noted they
have displayed an unanimity unprecedented in the history of the tribe, and
the consolidation of Sowlet’s authority, due to the practical disappearance of
his brother Zeigbam-cd-Dowleh from the tribal politics, is sufficient by itself
to render the tribe twice as formidable as it has been in the past.
It is freely alleged that Sakam-ed-Dowleh’s failure to procure Sowlets
dismissal was due to the latter having bribed Sipahdar, and it would cer­
tainly seem improbable that Sardar Assad, with whom he is on the worst of
terms, would not have seized the opportunity to dismiss him, had he not met
with strong resistance from his colleague.
As a result it is doubtful whether any attention would now be paid by
the Kashgais to orders from Tehran dismissing Sowlet-ed-Dowleh, and it-
seems far more likely that the only result would be to provoke the latter to
open rebellion.
Not only the Kashgais, but the Farsis in general are accustomed to speak
contemptuously of the present Government as “ those (variously qualified)
Bakhtiaris in Tehran,” and it is by no means improbable that Sowlet, cautious
as he is by nature, may, during the ensuing year, be driven by public opinion
within his tribe to some overt act of hostility against the ascendancy of the
Bakhtiari, whom every Kashgai considers inferior to his tribe both in courage
and in numbers. It is safe to say that very little of the old time prestige of
Tehran and the Shah’s Government has descended to the persons now in
power, who are regarded rather as a band of unusually successful robber*
than as the representatives of duly constituted authority.
■n^16 were on whole, well in hand throughout the year, although
the Darshuri and Farsimadan sections made themselves conspicuous in the
autumn by extensive damage to the telegraph line between Dastarjin and
Kazerun, and by maltreating the Armenian signaller at the latter place, the
result being a total interruption which showed signs of continuing indefinitely.
I consequently paid a visit to Sowlet’s camp and was assured that all the dam­
age was being done by a contumacious Kashgai chief in order to discredit his
(Sowlets) authority; but this is hardly credible, as tEe damage was too exten­
sive to have been done by a small party, and moreover it ceased completely
the moment Sowlet issued orders to that effect; I have consequently little
doubt that the damage was done wih his knowledge as a conspicuous demon­
stration of the incapacity of Saham-ed-Dow!eh to keep order.

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