Page 585 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

5
FOR THB YEAH l0i8/
his family* It seemed evident that the condition of exilo, though n0^ P?ir**r
rulorly oujcolionablc to tho rebel leaders themselves, was very much disliked
hv their followers, who naturally regarded with apprehension the prospect or
1 pine left to the tender mercies of the succeeding chiefs. At the sainp tune,
it was Quito impossible to hope for the maintenance of decent oouditions^on
the rona, if any of these hardened offenders were allowed to return to their
osts. These considerations rendered nugatory all hope of any direct settle­
ment with the rebel chiefs, who had to be forced to unconditional surrender to
the Persian Government.
The next stage of tho advance, from Daliki to Charum, led through
difficult and mountainous country, the inhabitants of which were known to be
mainly friendly, although there was a certain measure of anxiety regarding
the attitude of the Koshgai sections whose winter quarters lie near the road.
Tho main difficulty of the advance lay in the construction of a road payable
for camels through the Filfilli Pass close to Daliki, and up the more formidable
Kotal-i-Mallu oa to the Khisht plain.
On November 14th General Elsmie; accompanied by the Deputy Political
Besident, reconuoitred the Khisht plain, spending the night at Konar
Tnkhteh. The party was everywhere well received and entertained by Baba
Khan, headman of Konar Takhteh, and by Ali Wais Kban and Sardar Khan,
the joint Kalantars of Khisht. These two parties were then mutually hostile,
as Baba Khan was a dependent of Nur Muhammad Khan of Daliki, a bitter
enemy of the Khisbt chiefs, whose territory he had more than once ravaged.
The Khisht plain W3s a good example of the complete chaos tnt.o which this
part of Persia bad fallen. No rent or revenue had been paid for years, but the
chiefs were impoverished by the incessant expenditure on cartridges, and by
the actual damage done to property during their recurrent quarrels. The re­
connaissance was completed by a return to Daliki through the alternative route
bf the gorge of the Shapur river, and the Kotal-i-Bur. This is an old route
vrhich would repay study as a possible route for the railway, avoiding as it does
both the Filfilli and Mallu passes. It would, however, require a bridge over-
thcDaliki river, which is often impassable at this point*
On the 17th November, Nur Muhammad Khan and his brother were arrest­
ed in consequence of some heavy sniping near the Daliki bridge in his
territory. Investigation revealed no direct evidence implicating him, bnt it
was generally considered, notably by the Governor of Bushire, that it could
not have taken place without his connivance, as his three nephews were ali in
the hills near by, watching events. The brothers were accordingly removed
from Daliki to Bushire, and the son of the former headman, Kal Ali, appointed
in place of Nur Muhammad. This and all other appointments were made by
the Governor of Busbire, and confirmed where necessary by the Governor-
General of Fare. In considering all these cases it is necessary to remember
ttat Ghazanfar-cs-Sultaueh alone of all the headmen removed from their
posts, had any hereditary right to his position, all the others being either
forcible usurpers, or more temporary agents appointed by non-resident owners.
Ihus Nur Muhammad Khan is a Borasjuni by birth, and owed his position at
Daliki to appointment by Nizam-es-Sultaneh, the owner- of'the village, and
his importance solely to the wealth acquired by him from exactions on the mule
baffic.
As a result of the arrest of Nur Muhammad, his adherents, Baba Khan
Ghulam Reza, absconded from Konar Takhteh, being replaced by their
tousm Mullah Fafchull^, whose father had formally been headman. He proved
1 *^7 satisfactory choice.
. nex* until December 20th, was occupied with roadmakine
*1 preparations for tho attack on the formidable Kamarij Pass, where oppoai-
on the part of Nasir-i-Dewan the rebel headman of Kazerua, was expected,
this period tvoattaeks were made on pic q uetti ng _ troops, and as a
.cuuntry to the right of the advance was explored by three column*.
of Jamiicb burnt. During all this time the bead of the
Pass was reported held by Kazerunis under the Farrash Bashi, the