Page 643 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

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Ahram, the Khawiz Valley and Saraal are properties of Nizam-us-Sultaneh,
(being farmed for about 6,400 tomans in 1911); but the grant was made by the
Government in Tehran irrespective of the rights of ownership possessed by the
Khans of Tangistan themselves in the date gardens of Ahram. The maliyat of
the rest of Tangistan is 2,500 tomans.
At the time of the British War of 1856, when the Tangistanis put
up a brief resistance, their district was in the undivided control of Baghir
Khan. For much longer, however, they had been notorious for their inroads into
Bushire, the outskirts of the town and the island being from time to time raided
by them. After Baghir Khan’s death the district got gradually out of the control
of its own chiefs. For a time the famous Mohammed Khan of Dashti ruled it,
subsequently Hassan Khan, son of Baghir Khan. Haidar Khan, a nephew of the
above, was kept a prisoner at Shiraz for many years previous to 1890 . After
his return he and his cousin Ali Khan ruled alternately, but weakly and badly:
and several Kedkhudas made themselves practically independent, including a
certain Kedkhuda of Baghak, Haji Mohammed Ali. Maliyat was not paid, and
the Khans, in bad odour with the people, were finally driven out through the
Darya Begi’s championship of Zair Khidar, son of the above named Kedkhuda
of Baghak. This man originally agreed to act as Kalantar of the district under
the Khans, and got together the maliyat, and finally dispossessed the Khans.
From 1905 onwards, Zair Khidar and the various Kedkhudas remained each
supreme in his own village or surroundings, the most notable being Hassan
Bakshu in Ambarak, Ghulam Hussein Haji Khidar in Shuraki, Reis Ali in
Dilwar. The Khawiz valley and Ahram were farmed by Zair Khidar, who
amassed money but was very lenient.
In 1911 Nizam-us-Sultaneh rejected Zair Khidar's overtures, having with
him in his suite some of the younger Tangistani Khans. Zair Khidar was
attacked by a force of the Nizain, beaten back to the hills, and his village
Shemshiri destroyed. Sharp fighting ensued, in which some of the Kedkhudas,
like Hassan Bakshu, took the part of the Khans. Baghir Khan, Bahadur-us-
Sultaneh was killed, but old Haidar Khan went back to Ahram with the other
Khans on Nizam us-Sultaneh’s behalf. They remained in power as long as Nizam
was Governor-General, but in October Zair Khidar attacked them in the fort of
Qalat, and, as their supporters melted away, they were forced to fly the district.
Muwaqqer-ud Douleh, the new Governor, put Zair Khidar in charge of all
Tangistan, and they maintain friendly relations. The other Kedkhudas are by no
means subordinate to Zair Khidar, though Zair Khidar can raise the most men,
Reis Ali of Dilwar has become rich, and therefore of some importance, through
successful smuggling,
The number of tufangchis in Tangistan is altogether perhaps 1,000, but
there are so many blood feuds and enmities that more than 300 would most
unlikely be found together. At the time of Seyyid Murteza’s introduction of the
Tangistanis into Bushire in 1909, 1,000 men were said to have collected, but
the number was really much less, and then they were attracted by the prospect
of loot.
The family of the Khans of Tangistan is—

Baghir Khan.
1 I I
Ahmed Khan. Hassan Khan. Ismail Khan. Abbas Khan,
I
Haidar Khan. AU Khan (dead).
\aboot 56). I
Hassan Khan. Baghir Khan. Haji Khan.
(30).
(a8).
Bahadur-us. Mansur Khan
Sultaneh (16).
(killed, 19x1).
Ahmed Khan. Mohammed All
(a6j. Khan.
Zair Khidar’g residence is at Shamshiri, his fort at Qalat near Ahram.

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