Page 776 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

42 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE
care of the Deputy Governor, at present the brother of His Excellency Vikar-
ul-Mulk, Governor General of Arabistan, but tribal politics are almost entirely
in the hands of the Vioe-Consul. When it is necessary to resort to armed force
the Vice-Consul calls in the aid of the Chief of the Sedentary 8ngwands who
receives a subsidy from the Persian Government and also supplies most of the
sowars forming the Sag wand levy.
Until Juno 1920 the chief of these Sagwands was Sartip Khan. In that
month ho refused to send Sagwand sowars to Shush castle to take over from the
retiring cavalry detachment and finding that he was losing control of his tribe
tendered his resignation and was replaced by Sadiq Khan, a man of much
stronger oharaotor. Sartip Khan took refuge with a renegado Sagwand living
in Pushtikuh named Mozban Khan and was shortly afterwards killed in a
brawl by Mezban Khan. In November Bartip’s brother Mehrali Khan made a
determined attempt to oust Sadiq Khan which was frustrated by the prompt
action of Captain Warren who had just arrived at Dizful. In the course of the
fighting two sections of the Sagwand levy who were partisans of Sartip deserted
with there rifles and ammunition, one are still outlaws. Sadiq Khan has
now consolidated his positiou by allying himself with the most powerful sections
of the Baharwand and Qalawand tribes.
At Shushtar British interests have been ably looked after by Khan Sahib
Mirza Ali Khan. He wields great influence in the town and has devoted
himself assidously to increasing the efficiency of the various Government Depart­
ments and checking the rapacity of successive Governors-General. In response
to pressure from Teheran it has been considered advisable to relax much of the
conlrol exercised by the British representative over Local Departments of the
Persian Government, with what result remains to be seen. In this respect the
situation is different from that at Dizful since the only tribes ia the vicinity of
.Shushtar are the Bakhtiaries who are amenable to control through their
Khans.
At the same time the situation needs careful watching. It is noteworthy
that during the disturbances in Mesopotamia in the summer Arabistan remained
unaffected and provided that Local Consular officers receive the same measure
of support which they have had during the past few years it is likely that
North Arabistan will remain tranquil whatever may happen in the North of
Persia.
Our chief difficulty has been to shift the financial responsibility for the
maintenance of law and order on to the shoulders of the Persian Government
due to (a) the withholding of the greater part of the Customs allotment 'which
for several years provided funds for the expenses of the Governor General at
' Shushtar aud (b) the refusal of the Sheikh of Mohammerah to pay any of the
revenue due from him to the Persian Government until lis claim for reimbur­
sement of sums spent on behalf of the Persian Government during the war had
been met. Efforts are being made to persuade the Sheikh to pay up his
revenue before the end of the financial year.
Lynch Hoad.—No organized robberies took place during the year though
there was a certain amount of pilfering in the summer duo to the absence of a
recognized lllkhani and Illbegi.
The average rate charged for goods carried from Ahwaz to Isfahan was
Krs. 11,60 per shah maund as compared with Krs. 17,67 in 1919 and Krans
23.40 in 1918. The rate would have been lo wer still owing to exceptionally
good harvests in Bakhtiari had not mules been difficult to obtain. The con­
fidence of Muleteers was sapped by reports that the Kuhgilus would take
advantage of the absence of the Illkhani and Illbegi to recommence their
depredations in the summer.
t.
Both the iron bridges were overhauled and repaired at a cost of some
Tomans 3000 which was obtained from the Khans without much difficulty
through the agency of His Majesty’s Vice-Consul.
Jtakhtiari.—The fcommencement of the year found Bakhtiari without any
official Governors and this state of things continued until March when the task