"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٧] (٦١٦/٥٨)

RESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1905-1906.
37
Zahar 'Ali were entrusted with the charge of the tribal affairs, and Sharhan
was made over as a hostage to the Sardar Arf'a. It was given out that the
Bani Turuf bad paid up the sum of 40,000 tumans out of the 87,000 balance
of arrears of revenue due for the seven preceding years, and that Ghazban of
the Bani Lam had gone security for the remaining 47,000 tumans.
After this the situation remained unaltered until the middle of March
1906, when Haji Sabhan suddenly reappeared from his retirement, treacher
ously fell on the handful of Persian soldiers left in Hawiza, of whom three
were killed and eight wounded, and made himself supreme in Hawiza.
Sheikh Hanzal was deputed to the command of a levy of the Bawiya
which had already been despatched by the Sardar Arf'a.
From a multitude of conflicting reports the general impression is gained
that in a little skirmishing which took place between the various sections of
the Bani Turuf, small part was taken by the forces from this side of the river,
who were encamped at Yallali^a on the left bank of the Karkha.
To bring this episode to a conclusion, it may be stated that in the begin
ning of April, Sheikh Hanzal fought a small action (in which the total
casualties amounted to about 20) which resulted in the discomfiture and flight
of Sabhan.
4. The state of this part of the country has been unhappy during a
considerable portion of the year. In May the A1 bu Rawaya and Marau,
una tried conclusions with the Bani Tamim. This ended in their retreat
to the right bank of the Karun opposite Wais, where they have remained
since.
A dispute between the Shurafa and the Bani Sala succeeded a month
later, in which both parties received (? assistance) from the Bani Turuf.
The Bani Sala carried the day.
Still later the Ahwaz neighbourhood was perturbed by the incursions of
raiding parties of the ill-famed Khasarij section of the Bani Lam.
5. During the year a long-standing dispute between the Sardar Arf'a
and the Bakhtiari Khans reached a crisis.
Eaghaiwa is a small settlement at the foot of the outer hills North-East
from Wais. It was originally accounted the property of the Sheikh, but his
representative Mulla Thani, in whose charge this part of the country was >
appears to have neglected it.
The Bakhtiaris assumed the grazing rights of the locality, and gradually
a small settlement came into existence. Refugees from the Sheikh's jurisdic
tion found it a convenient place of sanctuary, and demands for their surrender,
were consistently refused by the Khans. In April last Haji Rais almost
succeeded in obtaining the consent of the Samsam-us-Saltana and his party
for the lease of the land to the Sheikh, but at the last moment they cried
off. In July the matter was again brought into prominence by the flight of
Sheikh Masikh with a number of bis adherents to Raghaiwa. Masikh alleged
oppression on the part of Zahar Earhan, the Sheikh's representative at Wais,
who is also responsible for most of the previous desertions.
A proposal that we should act as intermediaries was made impossible
by the remoteness of the Bakhtiari Khans at that season.
The Sheikh made reference to Tehran. Masikh returned in the course
of a month or so, but the general question remained unsettled, until permission
was received from Tehran to effect the repatriation of the remaining refugees
by force.
In November Zahar Tarhan (of Wais) and the Zargham um Mumalik,
the Salar Muazzam's military commander, left in company to put this into
practice. Instead however of endeavouring to induce the Arabs to return,
this estimable couple contented themselves with permitting the abuse of their
wives and womenkind by their followers. The Sheikh was greatly incensed,
and Parhan has spent his time since under open arrest at Failiya.
As regards the political question, the deposition of the Samsam, an old
enemy, and the elevation of the Sardar As'ad, a friend, of the Sheikh's, finally
removed all tension.