Page 238 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

06 TER3IAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
usual, boon largely attended by tbo local and surrounding population
total number of now pationts treated was 11,562 and 250 minor opera#-®
were performed. The commonest diseases wore cyc-di9oascs (2,006 patio °n*
8bin affections (1,662 patients) and intestinal worms (1,202 patients), lipidU*s)>
diseases were small-pox, influenza and whooping cough. 1 ernic
Shaikh Khazal presented a plot of ground 50 yards square to
Mi.cclUno.u., European community of Aliwaz for
as a Christian cemetery. A sum of ^
eso
was raised by private subscription from the European residents and the
was enclosed with a well built stone wall. Sround
Bakhtiari.—Najaf Kuli Kban, Samsam-us-Sultaneh, and Gliulam Husi*
Kban, Sirdar Mubtasbam, have continue
Condition of oouotrj.
in their oflicial appointments of Ilklian
and Ilbegi of tho Bakhtiari tribe throughout the year under report. These tw*
Chiefs have, however, been absent from tribal territory during tlie whole year
and the tribal administration was being carried on by Sirdar-i-Jang as Ilkhani
and Muitaza Kuli Khan as Ilbegi at the commencement of the year.
Bakhtiari expedition against the Kuhgeln.—At that time Sirdar-i-Jang Aras
busily engaged in organising the force with which he announced his intention
of completely annihilating the Kuhgelu tribes and thus carrying out the
promises which he had made in Tehran, at the time of his appointment in
1912.
To follow the fortunes of this expeditionary force it is necessary to <>ire
some account of the state of affairs in the Kuhgelu country at the time when it
was launched into the territory of that tribe.
Amir-i-Mujahid, who had been appointed to the Governorship of Behbehan
and Kuhgelu by Sirdar-i-Jang, in October of 1912, reached his capital in Nov­
ember of the same year. The Kuhgelu chiefs treated the Amir with scant
courtesy. They refused to come in and make their submission to him, or, in
any way recognise his portion or authority. The Amir spent his time profit­
ably in collecting taxes from the town and immediate environs of Behbehan.
He made minor changes in the internal administration of the Bahmai tribe,
which pays its revenue and is subject to the Bakhtiari chiefs, and treacherously
captured Ali Muhammad Khan, the Chief of the Garmisiri section of the
Taibi.
This state of affairs continued until January, when it became evident that
by force of arms alone Avas there any hope of getting tho Kuhgelu in hand and
establishing some sort of authority over them. A military expedition Avas
therefore decided upon and two columns were formed. One numbering some
3,000 Bakhtiari tofangchis, under Sarum-ul-Mulk, supported by 1,000 Babiuai
of the Ahmadi section under Husain Khan, was collected on the Bakhtiari
frontier, near Kaleh Ala. The other column was composed of 1,000 Bakhtiaria
supported by a force of about 1,000 friendly Kuhgelu. The Kuhgelu consisted
of a small section of the BuAvair Alimadi under Shukrullan Kban, the Churara
and Bavi tribes. This column was sent to Ajnir Mujahid to operate from the
direction of Behbehan. The Bakhtiari contingents in both these columns Avem
a ragged lot of peasants badly armed with a miscellaneous assortment of anti­
quated weapons and provided with a minimum of ammunition.
The tAVo columns started into Kuhgelu tribal territory on the 20th Febru­
ary, the objective of both being Deh Dasht, the approaches to Avhich had been
occupied by tho hostile Kuhgelu tribes.
The northern (KuJch Ala) column had got no further than four or fiv®
marches into the enemies* country when it was cut off from its base by tn
Kuhgelu. The country in which the force was operating is devoid of supply
and the column was soon reduced to the direst straits. The few baggage
and donkeys, which had accompanied tho column were killed for food, and to
Bakhtiaris, faced with starvation, began deserting in great numbers, fleein|Lc
their homes and being robbed and stripped en route l>y the Kuhgelus. *
column struggled on as best it could to Kaleh Raisi, whore, on the night oil
15th March, it was attacked by a force of Taibi and completely routed,
exact Bakhtiari lossos in killed and wounded in this engagement are not kno" 1