Page 239 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

FOU TIIE YEAH 191S. 07
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but. they were considerable, and it is known that the Taibi captured 120 Bakh-
hart ’ rifles.
Sariun-ul-Mulk attempted to rally his force, but tlio tribesmen wore so
disheartened by tlie reverse and desertions increased to such an alarming extent
that he ovontually decided to withdraw from the enemies’ country. He re-
mossed the Bakhtiari frontier a few days later.
The Soutlicrn or Bchbchan column meanwhile had met with better
access. It advanced as far as Deli Dasht, lighting some minor engage­
ment* and capturing some towers and tribal forts, en route. It appeared, how­
ler, that these successes w'crc in no way due to the Bakhtiari tofangchis, who
to0k little or no part in the fighting, and the majority of whom deserted within
, very short time, but were due solely to the efforts of the friendly Kuhgelus,
*ho soon formed the greater part of the force. The fighting soon degenerated
into promiscuous inter-tribal quarrels and the so-called column gradually
disbanded, all hostilities ceasing when Amir Mujahid abandoned the Bclihehan
Governorship in May.
The result of this complete failure of the Bakhtiari Military expedition
*as to confirm the Kuhgclu tribes in the belief that they have now nothing
;o fear from their Bnkhtiari neighbours, and that they aro more than a match
'or them when it comes to fighting.
Bakhliari relations with the Shaikh oj Jfohammcrah.—While these events
yere taking place in Kuhgelu country, a critical situation had arisen between
ihc Bakhtiaris and the Shaikh of Mohammerah in connection with the Jarrahi
lauds, and the damage caused to Bakhtiari property by the Arab raids on
Aqili in 1912. Sirdar-i-.lang, at the time of his appointment to the
Bakhtiari llkhaniship, had assured His Majesty’s Minister that he enter-
;ained the most friendly feelings towards the Shaikh, and would, during
ihc winter, re-sell to him the Jarrahi lands and settle the question of the Aqili
compensation in a friendly spirit. In January, however, the Sirdar announced
that he had no intention of selling Jarrahi but would shortly send his mamurs
:o take possession of the property, and he declared that the only point for
discussion with the Shaikh was the question of the amount of compensation,
vhich the latter must pay for the damage caused at Aqili.
The Shaikh, on this, decided, if necessary, to resist forcibly any attempt
on the part of the Sirdar to send representatives to Jarrahi, and, with this end
in view, came to Nasiri and summoned his Arab forces to the number of some
3,000 will-armed men. He stationed another force of 1,000 men on the Ram
Hormuz-Jarrahi road. Having taken these precutions, ho let it be known that
dthough he would resist any attempt on the part of Sirdar-i-Jan«» to send
rcprensentatives to Jarrahi, he was willing to buy those lauds from the Khans
for the same price which they had originally paid for them, viz , Tomans 16,000.
Sirdar-i-Jaug declined even to discuss the question of sale aud re-iterated his
intention to take over the lands immediately the Kuhgelu expedition was
finished.
Hostilities appeared imminent and it was decided that we should
intervene directly with the Sirdar-i-Jang and Shaikh Khazal and attempt to
induce the latter to offer and the former to accept Tomans 30,000 for the Jarrahi
lands, this sum to include also the Aqili compensation. Shaikh Khazal agreed
to this figure without difficulty and Captain Grey was deputed to proceed to
Sirdar-i- Jang’s camp and endeavour to influence him in the direction desired.
As a result of the subsequent interviews winch took place it came to light that
toe Bakhtiari Khans had specifically forbidden Sirdar-i-Jang to negotiate the
sale of Jarrahi with the Shaikh and had directed the latter to take over
toe property. Captain Grey was however successful in making the Sirdar
fce that an attempt to take over the property would most certainly lead to
hostilities with the Shaikh of Mohammerah, and that we should consider
him and the other Khans responsible for such breach of the peace. He
Stained the Sirdar’s promise that ho would not send mamurs to Jarrahi and
*ould himself urgo upon the other Khans the advisability of disposipg of tho
Ws in dispute to the Shaikh and establishing friendly relations with him.
Tire Shaikh’s sons and his Vizier, Haji Rais-ut-Tujjar, wore invited to
toe Sirdar’s camp, and, during their visit, the Sirdar, as an aot of grace, agreed
o