'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎15v] (35/310)

11. Luristan.—On the 13th March, Sir
A. Hardinge telegraphed to the Secretary of
State, suggesting, in connection with the Lur
outrage {vide paragraphs 16 and 17 of the
Memorandum for February), the sequestration
of the Jask Royalty. His Majesty’s Govern
ment, however, replied that the continuance
of diplomatic pressure would be preferable.
12. Bakhtiari Country .—In connection
with the establishment of a Customs post at
Godar-i-Balutak {vide paragraph 11 of the
Memorandum for November 1904), it has since
been reported that the same fees collected at
Godar are now collected on the Shiraz road
at Daliki. The post at Godar is said to have
been established to check smuggling from the
coast, but, although a certain amount of
smuggling is no doubt carried on, the multi
plication of Customs barriers must cause
inconvenience and delay to legitimate carriers.
13. Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Muffagham, Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the
Bakhtiaris, died on the 18th February 1905 at
Malamir.
14. Ispahan —The Zil-es-Sultan has been
troubled by family intrigues and the opposition
of the local Mullas. The Banu Osmah, the Zil’s
sister, who is constantly intriguing with the
Russians for his downfall, has left for Tehran
to continue her campaign there, a turn of events
which the Zil has in vain tried to avert. The
new Russian Minister has sent him a friendly
message, and it is possible Mons. de Speyer will
not follow the footsteps of his predecessor,
Mons. Vlassoff, in his hostility to the Zil.
. 15. The agitation of the Ispahan Mullas
against the Zil’s government only affects
British interests directly as regards the Church
Missionary Society schools and new hospital,
though the Mullas interfere in commercial
and other matters, and are agitating to have
every case tried by Shar’ law. It is feared that,
during the Shah’s absence this summer, they
may, unless removed by the Ain-ed-Dowleh,
create a disagreeable situation in Ispahan!
It is, however, unlikely that the Ain-ed-
Dowleh, who is already in difficulties
with the clergy, will add to these a fresh
quarrel with the Nejefy and the Ispahan
Mullas in order to please the Zil-es-Sultan.
16. Shiraz .—There is much popular dis
content against the Shoa-es-Sultaneh’s system of
administration and financial retrenchment; the
Bushire-Shiraz road is unsafe, and robbery is a
frequent occurrence; cholera exists in*Fars
near Adabeh and in the Kashgai country
whilst Shiraz is in a filthy condition which
the Prince has done nothing to improve
beyond levying funds for the purpose.
17. A leading local Mujtahid, Agha Mirza
Ibrahim, has been agitating against the Church