Page 545 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910. 49

the Bakhtiari Khans to Hussein Khan and Ali Murad Khan, the former of
the Mohraadi, the latter of the Ahmedi branches of the Bahamai Kuhgelus,
as a guarantee of whose good behaviour the Bakhtiari Chiefs retained host­
ages given by the Kuhgclu, notably among whom was the son of Ali Murad
Khan, who was in the charge of Lutf Ali Khan, Amir-i-Muffakham. This
arrangement worked satisfactorily till.the month jof September, thereby
proving the correctness of His Majesty’s Consul’s recommendation as to the
advantageousness of the Bakhtiari Chiefs taking over the Governorship of
the Kuhgelus.
Subsequent on dissensions breaking out among the Bakhtiari Chiefs, the
hostages were released and the Kuhgelu commenced their depredations. The
first of the robberies took place at a place called the Chati Murwarid. The
caravan belonged to Urujin Traders, Persian subjects, the aggressors in this
case being Muzarmi Bakhtiaris assisted by Dushman Ziari Kuhgelus, the
latter carrying off 21 mules, the former the loads.
The second robbery was perpetrated by the above tribes, who carried off
39 mules, carrying property belonging to Deh Kurd and Cham Asmani Trad­
ers (Persian subjects).
The third and fourth robberies were of property carried by Messrs.
Lynch Brothers for Persian merchants. The first consisted of 131 lbs. opium,
valued at 5,24-0 krans, the other three sheets of copper valued at 811 krans.
In August, a ruling was issued by His Majesty’s Legation, Tehran, that
in cases where the persons suffering loss were other than British subjects,
Consular intervention was to be confined to assistance of a purely unofficial
character.
The material condition of the road is fair. The advice constantly given
by His Majesty’s Consul, Ahwaz, to the
Condition of the Lynch Road.
Bakhtiari Chiefs with regard to cara­
vanserais at last commenced to bear fruit in the spring, when Haji Ali Kulli
Khan, Sardar Assad, commenced the building of a caravanserai at the Godar
Bridge, and the repair of the Shalil and Sarkhura caravanserais was taken in
hand by other of the Bakhtiari Khans.
A new system of bridge tolls was inaugurated by the Bakhtiari Khans
in the spring, on a system of paper
Bridgo tolls on the Lynch Rood.
checks, taken at the first bridge passed
I over and delivered up at the last. Up to the end of September 46,000 tomans
had been taken, and on the same ratio, allowing for winter cessation of traffic,
it is estimated that not less than 60,000 tomans will have been taken. This
sum being an estimated increase of 12,000 tomans over the actual takings of
the preceding year, which were actually in round numbers 48,000 tomans,
being an increase of 8,000 tomans over the sum estimated in the Administra­
tion Report of 1909 as the probable takings for that year.
A new system was also inaugurated with regard to the leasing of cara-
vanserais. Instead of the old system of
Leascs of Caravanserais on the Lynch Road.
». , ,.,, . selling the lease for the year to the
nignest bidder, the caravanserais were handed over to certain persons, who
had to pay rent for same at the rate of \ kran per mule or camel shown by the
bridge check-tickets as having passed over the load.
•hir i and provisions on the Bakhtiari road, more especially between
Mai amir and Dopalun, were excessively dear during the period under review.

Tours of His Britannic Majesty’s Consul.
(spring tour.)
Owing to circumstances, which will be explained hereafter under the
heading f‘ British Interests—Anglo-Per-
Arabi,Un “d sian Oil Company,” His Majesty’s Con-
Mr n -n t i j i* xi. x , ^ . sul Proceede<l on tour aocompanied by
hG ^lo;Persian 0il Company, on the 27th March, and
proceeded vid Wais and Reghewa to Kima, near Ram Hormuz, which was
B