Page 456 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

40 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
the roads and the difficulty of obtaining supplies, especially grain ajid fodder,
Likkak was made a base camp, whence very lightly equipped expeditions were
made.
Mombi, the head-quarters of Muhammad Husein Khan, was visited on
one of these expeditions, travelling by way of the Tcng-i-Dola and the Teng-i-
Maghar, near the first of which Tengs on the return journey an opportunity
was obtained of obtaining specimens of iron and lignite deposits which exist
there. Expeditions were also made to inspect the oil ‘ shows ’ at Tashun and
the Sassaman remains near the Teng-i-Bend.
Two days were spent at Mombi and three continuous days at Likkak.
The tone of all the three brothers was most friendly and frank and, dur­
ing the tour, friendly relations were established, not only with the ruling
Chiefs of the Bahmai, but also with Chiefs of other tribes of the Kuhgelu who
were met with both at Likkak and other places in the Kuhgelu country.
Three questions came up for discussion : (i) Muhammad Husein Khan’s
desire for an Engineer to estimate the oost of building a bridge over the
Marun river on the direct road between Likkak and Behbehan, (ii) regarding
the oil deposits, (Hi) regarding the Arabistan Telegraphs, (t) and (ii) have
been referred to Lynch and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company respectively and
(in) is held in abeyance pending the ratification by the Medjliss of the Tele­
graph Convention.
In the latter case Ali Nakki Khan’s good will is a great asset in the case
of construction and maintenance of a telegraph line in that part of the coun­
try. Both Ali Nakki Khan’s regime at Likkak and that of his brother at
Mombi is purely Lurish, more so even than that of the Sardar Ashraf, Wali
of Pusht-i-Kuh, who was visited last year.
At present the two brothers appear to administer the tribe in harmony
and to be free of those dissentions which split up the Bakhtiari Khans.
Muhammad Husein Khan of Mombi is even more powerful and more
feared than his elder brother Ali Nakki Khan, while "the youngest, Muham­
mad Sbeffi Khan, acts for either brother as occasion may demand.
Ali Nakki Khan is a middle aged man while the other two are about 35
and 25 respectively. All seem endowed with a reasonable amount of intelli­
gence, more especially Muhammad Husein Khan.
The progeny of all three brothers are as yet children.
It is hoped to make the Kuhgelu the subject of a separate report.
From Likkak the march was continued to Behbehan where 2 days were
spent making the acquaintanoe of the leading men of that town.
From there the tour was continued to Ram Hormuz, and through S. W.
Arabistan via Ghuraiba and Fallahiyah to Ahwaz, making a total of nearly
850 miles covered on the summer and autumn tours.
Qala Madrassa.—Satisfactory .pro-
CUina*. (a) Messrs. Lynch Brothers. gress was made in the year 1909 in the
matter of old outstanding claims.
The Qala Madrassa robbery claim, which had been outstanding since
1907, and which the Bakhtiari Khans had flatly refused to pay, was paid ia
ioto after much negotiation, in August.
Godar Bridge Claim.—-This claim has been outstanding since 1903-04
and, as in the case of other claims, the Bakhtiari Khans had refused payment,
on* the grounds that in their opinion it was exorbitant and that Mr. Preece,
at that time His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Ispahan, had told them
that he agreed with this view. After much negotiating the Khans agreed to
see the details of the bill and to pay when satisfied as to the accuracy of the
details. Not having the details of the bill in Camp His Majesty’s Consul
wired to His Majesty’s Legation asking for a copy and at the same time