'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎120r] (246/396)

FOR THE YEAR l9 i8.
5
his family. It sGcmGd GvidGnt tliat the condition of GxilG } though, not parti"
cularly objcciionablG to tliG rGbel leaders thenisGlvGS, -was very 0 much disliked
by their iollowGrs, who naturally regarded with apprehension the prospect of
being left to the tender mercies of the succeeding chiefs. At the same time,
it was quite impossible to hope for the maintenance of decent coiiditions on
the road, if any of these hardened offenders were allowed to return to their
posts. These considerations rendered nugatory all hope of any direct settle
ment with the rebel chiefs, who had to be forced to unconditional surrender to
the Persian Government.
The next stage of the advance, from Daliki to Charum, led through
difficult and mountainous country, the inhabitants of which were known to be
mainly friendly, although there was a certain measure of anxiety regarding
the attitude of the Kashgai sections whose -winter quarters lie near the road^
The main difficulty of the advance lay in the construction of a road passable
for camels through the Jb'iltiili Pass close to Daliki, and up the more formidable
Kotal-i-Mallu on to the Khisht plain.
On November 14th General Elsmie, accompanied by the Deputy Political
Resident, reconnoitred the Khisht plain, spending the night at Konar
Takhteh. The party was everywhere well received and entertained by Baba
Khan, headman of Konar Takhteh, and by Ali Wais Khan and 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. 'Khan,
the joint Kalantars of Khisht. These two parties were then, mutually hostile,
as Baba Khan was a dependent of Nur Muhammad Khan of Daliki, a bitter
enemy of the Khisht chiefs, whose territory he had more than once ravaged.
The Khisht plain was a good example of the complete chaos into which this
part of Persia had fallen. N^o rent or revenue had been paid for years, but the
chiefs were impoverished by the incessant expenditure on cartridges, and by
the actual damage done to property during their recurrent quarrels. The re
connaissance was completed by a return to Daliki through the alternative route
of the gorge of the Shapur river, and the Kotal-i-Bur. This is an old route
which w T ould repay study as a possible route for the railway, avoiding as it does
both the Filfilli and Mallu passes. It would, how r ever, require a bridge over,
the Daliki river, which is often impassable at this point-
On the 17th November, Nur Muhammad Khan and his brother were arrest
ed in consequence of some heavy sniping near the Daliki bridge in his
territory. Investigation revealed no direct evidence implicating him, but it
was generally considered, notably by the Governor of Bushire, that it could
not have taken place without his connivance, as his three nephews were all in
the hills near by, w r atching events. The brothers were accordingly removed
from Daliki to Bushire, and the son of the former headman, Kal Ali, appointed
in place of Nur Muhammad. This and all other appointments were made by
the Governor of Bushire, and confirmed where necessary by the Governor-
General of Pars. In considering all these cases it is necessary to remember
tliat Ghazanfar-es-Sultaneh alone of all the headmen removed from their
posts, had any hereditary right to his position, all the others being either
forcible usurpers, or more temporary agents appointed by non-resident owners.
Ihus Nur Muhammad Khan is a Borasjuni by birth, and owed his position at
Daliki to appointment by Nizam-es-Sultaneh, the owner of the village, and
his importance solely to the wealth acquired by him from exactions on the mule
traffic.
As a result of the arrest of Nur Muhammad, his adherents, Baba Khan
and Ghulam Eeza, absconded from Konar Takhteh, being replaced by their
cousin Mullah Fathull^, whose father had formally been headman. He proved
a very satisfactory choice.
The next period, until December 20th, was occupied w 7 ith roadmaking
and preparations for the attack on the formidable Kamarij Pass, where oj^posi-
tion on the part of Nasir-i-Dewan the rebel headman of Kazerun, w-as expo: ! ~ 7
During this period t a'O attacks were made on picquetting troops, and as a
result the country to the right of the advance was explored by three columns,
and the village of Jamileh burnt. During all this time the heaa of the
Kamarij Pass was reported held by Kazerunis under the Farrash Bashi, the