Page 480 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

50 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
agreed that His Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul should accompany the Khan*
to tlio high country with the object of supporting them if their brother Khans
proved fractious. Mr. Grahame had already made over the control of Bakhtiarj
affairs to His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, on his return to Ispahan iyj
April.
Owing to a large robbery by Kuhgclus at ICaloh Mcdrcssch, in May, which
called for a long delay at Malamir, His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul anil
tho ruling Khans did not reach Cliahav Mahal till the middle of July. rp|l(J
position on arrival there was as followsThe news of the Turkish invasion
had just been received and had given a frosh lease of life to the German
campaign which had its nucleus with tho party under KardolF, the German
“Chargd d Affaires,” who was enjoying tho hospitality of Zargham-es-Sultanch
at Pavadumbeh.
Tho Khans, although they had undertaken to turn out the Germans bv
force of arms if necessary, would not come up to the scratch, as they did not
like to tacklo tho fort at Paradumbeh without artillery. As the Turks
advanced further into Persia, Amir Mujahid, Ilbegi, with a view to possible
developments, determined to get the Germans away from Za.ghain, with whom
ho had an old standing enmity, and get them lodged with his own friends
His idea being that if the Turks got the upper hand, he would indirectly come
in for a share of tho kudos attaching to harbouring the Germans. He arranged
this move with success and, by the beginning of August, Kardoff and his
following were safely lodged with Amir Mujahid’s sister, Bibi Miriam, at
Surishjun.
In tbo meanwhile, by playing on the bad feeling between Amir Mujahid
and Sardars ZalTar and Muhtasliam, the latter readily fell in with the idea of
raising a Bakhtiari force, ostensibly to turn out the Germans, but in reality
to deal a blow at Mujahid. When the latter realised this, be hurriedly
arranged that Kardoff aud his party, who bad by now been joined by a
following of -300 or <100 Bakhtiaris under Salar Masoud, Bahadur-es-Sultauck
Salar Azam, should leave Surishjun for Deli Kurd.
The loyalist force of about S00 sowars which had in the meanwhile
collected at the bidding of Sardars Muhtasham and Zaffar, slowly advanced
towards Deli Kurd, but it was obvious that the Khans were determined that
no collision should occur. The main object was, however, achieved as the
German party, who had couutod on using Cbahar Mahal as a base from which
to recruit a force preparatory to an advance on Ispahan, was forced to move
into the Ispahan Province where they were attacked aud broken up at Tiruu,
on September, 1st, by a detachment of Cossacks from Ispahan. There then,
remained the question of punishment of the Bakhtiari Khans who had assisted
the enemy. Surishjun was the first estate chosen for confiscation. Auiir
Mujahid resorted to every possible expedient to prevent the confiscation of
his sister's property taking place, but without success. The confiscation of
other estates followed automatically.
In September a certain Mirza Farukhi arrived with a message from the
Khans in Tehran to attack Ispahan but avoid, if possible, coming into collision
with the British. A deputation of the Khans, headed by Sardar Fateh, asked
His Britanio Majesty’s Vice-Consul whether the British would be prepared
to consider a Bakhtiari attack on Ispahan as a purely personal matter between
the Russians and the Bakhtiari.
Jn October the feeling against Amir Mujahid came to a head and bfl
found himself compelled to resign. His unpopularity wa9 chiefly due to bis
refusal to pay bis share of the Bakhtiari pensions to the minor Khans. Owing
to the uncertainty of the position at the Capital it was not possible to take
any action to appoint a new Ilbegi till December when His Britannic
Majesty's Vice-Consul himself visited Tehran. The two candidates for lb0
Ilbogishij) were Amir Jang and Murtcza Quli Khan. Wo insisted on the
nomination of Amir Jang in spite of tho keen opposition of the Khan**
Murtaza Quli Khan was at tho time in constant communication with Niza*11
and ho hod practically made up his mind to go over to tho Turks if tbo/
should succeed in taking Sultanabad.