Page 195 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

FOR THE YEAR 1013. 65
• forested onlooker. Bakhtiaris carry tho practice of extortion beyond the
dlfl |s of wliat is regarded as reasonable even in Porsia, and the Amir-i-
and his crew, in spito of his pious assertions to tho contrary, were
*'1 traitors to their blood and traditions. As a result Kerman cannot at the
D° lC11t conveniently fill any more Lur stomachs and pockets. It is also
n°cstionablc how Mr. Lecoffrc’s nerves and the Swedes’ tempers would stand
411 pr^ence of their common betes wires the Bakhtiari. In tho experience of
il'is Majesty’s Consul, the Amir-i-Mufakbam, taken all round, was a very
J rourablc specimen of the Bakhtiari cousinhood and the Sirdar Muhtasham,
nlcss he is now a reformed character, is not at all likely to be an improvement
u him. In the roview of the general course of tho administration of the
ovinco during the year, the more important matters of internal political
interest have been touched on, but some further details regarding district politics
and local institutions may now be given under separate headings.
Despite the intermittent appointment of Governor’s agents in Rudbar
and the delegation in autumn of a small
Rudlar.
force of Bakhtiari sowars nominally for
ibe protection of tbo roads, all real power and authority has continued to rest
in the hands of the Zargham-i-Nizam of Kahnu. The Bakhtiaris* activities
irere principally devoted to extracting Hahdari (illegal road tax) from
caravans. The Zarghatn is a man with a natural bent towards submission to
authority; but if the way of transgressors is hard, that of those who try to
abide by the law in Persia is harder, and tiic wisdom aud wills of the serpent
are necessary to the virtuous.
At the beginning of the year, the Zargham sent in 2,000 tomans to the
Auiir-i-Mufakham as an earnest of the payment of his arrears of revenue.
Later, during the Amir’s expedition, he came to terms with him, made
considerable payments, and was made officially responsible for the safety
of the district, and there has been no reason to complain of the manner
in ttliich bo has carried out his duties. When the Baluch invaded Jiruft and
Rudbar in December, he mustered what force he could and went in pursuit
In spite of two disastrous actions, he persisted in his course to beyond Rigan
From there he returned, but he is said to be hatcliing plans for a retaliatory
expedition into Sarhad. He is a relation by marriage of Sirdar-i-Xizain of Geh,
but by taste be is a firm friend of the Nawab of Narmasliir with whom Sirdar-
i-Xizam is at prepetual feud. This produces complications in the relations of
(he Zargham who however appears in general to follow the dictates of frieud-
diip rather than those of affinity.
The district is the haunt of Afshar Turks who are principally Nomads by
habit and all robbers by profession. The
q * ' tr* chief figures are Gkunj Ali Khan, who
«gns himself " Ilkkani ” and his nephew the Sowlet-ul-Mulk. Ghunj Ali Khan
bad been arrested in connection with the rebellion of 1912, but had been
leased again. The early part of the year was occupied with quarrels between
Ibe two leaders which ended in the Sowlet being driven out of the Afshar coun­
ty Ghunj Ali Khan professed himself willing to pay in the revenue due from
bimself. When the Amir-i-Mufakham approached the Afshar country on his
lour he was joined by the Sowlet-ul-Mulk who had just before been implicated
Jr was stated to have been implicated, in a caravan robbery at Isfandaqah.
The Amir to win him over to his side received him well and sent him off in
P^ce. The Afshar put up no fight, and the question of the payment of the
^enue was made a subject of negotiation. As stated above the Amir was
luscious that ho was not cutting a very heroic figure, but he declined to allow
^rusolf to be encouraged into attempting to treat the Afshar as the confirmed
tnemies of the State that they had shown themselves to he. A peaceful settlc-
jJJ-ut was, after somo weoks, arrived at on the lines recorded above. Two of
'hunj Ali Khan’s brothers, who had been brought to ICorman as hostages, were
flowed to escape, or at any rate escaped on August 31st. The Afshars have
f^'cver boon on their good bohaviour throughout the year. Thoy appear to
pu abstained from robbery, and Ghunj Ali Khan has made various attempts
J 6rccious. words to got himself into the good books of the Financial Agen