Page 62 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

M PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
The remainder of the 6tory may he summarised as followsBefore to,
departure from the Province .the Amir-i-Azam also had Abbas Babili, a co^.
panion of the Rifat-i-Nizam, blown from a gun.
The treasure of the Imperial Bank of Persia was taken back, on July
from the British Consulate ,to the town The condition of the country, bo^!
ever, subsequent to the departure of the Amir-i-Azam, continued to be depl0r,
able. The Afshare and Bucnaqchis plundered people and insulted women
the town of Kerman and the surrounding villages, and were encouraged rather
than restrained by the Adl-us-Sultan, the only official in the place with anv
power. This man also connived at the escape of the two imprisoned chief}*
Gunj AH Khan Afsliar and Uusoin Khan Buchaqchi, which he pleaded 1^
was powerless to prevent.
What stands out in the history of this revolt is the levity of the tribal
leaders who allied themselves with men like the two. arch conspirators, the
utter want of initiative and pluck on the part of the Amir-i-Azam, who is no*
locally lauded as a hero, and the inability of the rebellious confederacy from
want of organisation and mutual trust to face the merest semblance of
organised resistance.
Finally, the intelligence, let alone the loyalty, of the “ Democratic ”
party in the town, is shown up as being of the meanest quality. Did they
ever imagine that they would have any place in the sun in a scheme of
the world organised by the Afshare and Buchaqcbis ? The Persian “ Demo­
crat ” is just a step more childish and contemptible than the Persian
“ Aristocrat ”, who at least shows some appreciation of his own immediate
interests.
The firmness and common sense displayed by Colonel Haig in bis dealing
with this situation, and his success in maintaining his Hurnpty Dumpty, the
Amir-i-Azam, on the top of his wall in security if not in dignity received an
immediate expression of approval from the British Government, who bestowed
upon him the Companionship of St. Jlichael and St. George in recogni-
tion of his services.
The Amir-i-Azam, destroyer of rebels, defender of Kerman, and now a
popular hero, was by his grateful Government immediately dismissed from
office. He now resides in private obscurity in • the seclusion of bis domains
at Damaghan. Sic transit gloria mundi : but it is believed that a large
portion of the last year’s revenues of Kerman enables him to sooth the bitter­
ness of his spirit with material comforts.
When the new Governor General, the Amir-i-Mufakham, appeared on
the stage the province was in the state of confusion natural after an almost
successful rebellion and the dismissal of the triumphant Government Cham­
pion. Raiding and robbery were rife in all the districts and on all the roads.
The new Governor first spent a month in the Rafsinjan district and, with
his sons and Bakhtiari following, had several engagements with large bands of
robbers which led to the establishment of security on the Yezd-Kerman road.
The prestige so gained and the advance of the season had an immediate effect
elsewhere, and before the end of the year the roads, which for months had be®
closed for caravan trade, were again open, and the post began again to read*
their destinations.
.On the 30th September he entered Kerman city. Two problems, hotr-
ever, at .once presented themselves, first the supply of arms and ammunition,
and second that of funds—both essential requirements for a projected exped**
$ioji into Bain phis tan (which has for some years been practically independent)*
and a revenue collecting tour round the other districts.
A solution had not been found for either problem by the end .of the ycaf*
Among (he political matters of lesser importance which occurred during
the year the following Reserve mention.
Ki&or Political Affirin.
The anti-foreign feeling and demonstrations which were in vogue in
.and Bam at the end of 1911 were at once suppressed on his arrival hy
Amir-1- Azaul *