Page 48 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

88 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
It is now said that in the reported compact formed between the two
factions of the Bakhtiaris it was eet tied that Raghaiwa should be leased'to the.
Sardar Arf'a for two years at a yearly rent of 1,200 tomans; hut this cannot
bo regarded as certain.
0. Crops, etc.—Bain having come too late, the crops in 1905 wore not
successful.
Again in the present season the first rains required for sowing did not
arrive till the middle of January. In consoquenco tho area sown is not very
extensive, but there is every likelihood that what has been sown will turn out
very well.
Last hot weather was, by comparison-, a ruild one, and in tho end of
December there was a short spell of phenomenal cold, some degrees of frost
being registered.
7. Northern Arahistan.—At the beginning of the year the Governor was
the Azim-us-Saltana—a cypher.
In the beginning of April the Salar Muazzam came down through the
Dlrakwand country with a force of 2,000 or 3,000 men, and joined the ’Azixn-
us-Sultana at Dizful. His commission was stated to bo the coercion of the Bani
Turuf. In May, however, he relieved the Azim of tho Governorship, and
has remained on, till the present as Governor.
He quickly asserted for himself a power and authority which have not
been known in any ruler in recent times. In Shushter he began with the
destruction of the house of Kazitn Khan, Kalantar, a man who had been a
cause of many disturbances, and a thorn in the side of the Azim. It was
less this, however, that led to his murder, with every accompaniment of
barbarity, by the Salar, than his wealth and the fact that he was an ancient
enemy of the Salads uncle, the Nizam-us-Saltana. His wives and family were
rendered houseless and reduced to beggiug their bread.
8. The famous religious house of Sheikh Muhammad ’ Ali also attracted
the ill-will of the Salar, and ou the death of the old man himself, in autumn,
his sons founcl themselves unable longer to tolerate the oppression of the Salar,
and left the town. This spring however their representations to the religious
chiefs of Ispahan led to the Salar arranging for the return of the eldest son
with every circumstance of consideration and respect. The youDgest son,
Sheikh Murtaza, is said to have lately been extremely honourably received by
the Shah in Tehran and his return in triumph to his home is expected shortly.
The rival religious house of Saiyid ’Abd-us-Samad, the acting partner in which
is bis son Saiyid J’afar, has on the whole received favourable treatment at the
bands of the Salar.
9. In Dizful, except at the commencement, outwardly friendly relations
were maintained with the leading religious authority, Muhammad Hussain,
Mujtahid, whose influence in the town is supreme ana undisputed. It may be
put to his credit that he has never failed to use his best efforts to save the
victims marked out by the Salar’s rapacity.
10. The Salar is a man of force and ability, but avaricious, more than
cruel, and entirely selfish* He seems incapable of any generous sentiment,
and one seeks in vain in his aots for any trace of compassion or even mercy.
It is only fortunate that, for the furtherance of his own designs, he has found
it convenient to exeroise his redoubted powers towards introducing poace and
seourity into the country.
He has unquestionably amassed a handsome fortune daring the year. _ He
ba9 found a fitting lieutenant and a pious imitator in the Muizz-um-Mumalik,
whom he has at certain times kept beside him, at others deputed to Dizful
or Shushter.
In February 1906 the Salar was granted the new title of Sardar,
Mukarram, and received the Howiza district in fief for three years.
Rumours of his approaching removal have for some time been current,
but they have not as yet been proved correct.
11. The Safaris policy has not been confined to the humbling of tho
townships. He took an early opportunity of exacting a demonstration of his
subjection from Farhan Asad of the Bait Sa'ad.

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