Page 556 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

88 ANNUAL REPORT OP TEE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY
march from 8bush and succeeded* in restoring order. Two days later a mov
able column from Ahwoz Consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery entered
the town.
Trials were held by the Assistant Political Officer assisted by the Deputy
Governor of 8hushtarand the sentences were confirmed by tho General Officer
Commanding, Karun Front. Three members of the Kalantar family, Cl?
Agha Saiyid, Agha Mustapha and Agha Mirza Muhammad Reza Khan were
sentenced to death and shot and nine other persons received terms of imprison,
mont ranging from one to six years, with doportation.
At the beginning of August Captain Noel left Ahwaz for Dalun. where he
hoped to complete his arrangements for a
Kcghela ftffiin.
tour through the Kughelu country, ft
was bis intention to visit the Bahmai Chief, Hussain Khan, at Qalai Mumbi
and travel theuce via the Taybi and Boir Ahmedi countries to Palad in
Bakhtiari territory. Unfortunately the hostility of the Taybies, who had been
consistently looting the Lynch road and were rather nervous in consequence,
made progress beyond Mumbi impossible and Captain Noel was compelled to
retrace his steps and enter the Bakhtiari country by the Lynch Road. He was
able to glean much useful information during his stay at Qalai Mumbi and
obtained some specimens of coal and iron ore which have been sent to England
for analysis.
An excellent site for a hill station, at a height of 8,000 to 9,000 feet, has
been discovered in the Mungasht range which divides the Bakhtiari country
from Kughelu.
The beginning of the year found preparations in progrecs for the formation
of a Bakhtiari Levy Corps, one of
Bakhti&ri affairs.
several schemes which had been devised
for the purpose of counteracting Russian influence on the Isfahan side of the
border, and, in February, formal sanction was received to the raising of a
force of 200 infantry and 100 cavalry under British Officers with headquarters
in Chabar MahaL
In conformity with the same policy Mr. Harris, the then Acting Vice-
Consul at Isfahan, wa9 deputed to Dehkurd to watch over our interests. Un­
happily the local intrigues so preyed upon his mind that he took hi9 own life
three months after his arrival in the Bakhtiari country. No successor was
appointed.
The intrigues of Amir Mujahid had rendered it almost impossible for
Sardar Muhtashim to continue as Ilkhani and, in order to leave the latter a
dear field, it was arranged that Amir Mujahid should leave the country for
an indefinite period. Sardar Zaffar, in return for the settlement by us of his
outstanding claims against the Persian Government and the promise of our
support of his candidature on the Ilkhaniship next falling vacant, agreed to
spend eight months in India.
With the arrival of the Ilkhani and Hbegi in the low country, it became
clear that their attitude had changed and that they were in no mood to further
our interests. This change of attitude was due primarily to the administrative
measures adopted by us at Dizful and Shushtar, measures dictated by the mih*
tary situation but having as their result the elimination of Bakhtiari- influence
in these towns with considerable financial loss to the Khans. Moreover, Sardar
Muhtashim was tired of office and anxious to resign.
In these circumstances support of our policy could only have' been
chased with' concessions which we were unwilling to make and accordingly
His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul submitted proposals fora new combination
of tribal Governors, viz., 8ardar Zaffar as Ilkhani and Sardar Asbjaa
Ilbegi. .
The Minister at first supported the new combination ; the resignation
8ardar Muhtashim was accepted and a telegram sent to Sardar Zaffar askW
him to take over the Government. The departure from the country ^ of
Mujahid who, in response to the friendly intervention of the Sbaikjij
Mohammerah had promised to support the new Dkhani, was not preS8
further.