'A Précis of the Relations of the British Government with the Tribes and Shaikhs of 'Arabistan By Lieutenant A T Wilson, Acting Consul for Arabistan' [‎13r] (30/143)

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attacked his son who was only able to hold his own with the help of Persian
soldiers from Ahwaz, for whose assistance he paid heavily. Haji Jabir how
ever was permitted to return and his timely arrival turned the scale. Fal-
lahiyeh was taken and the prestige of the Ka’ab Shaikhs permanently
impaired.
A change of Governors, however, deprived Jabir for the moment of the
fruits of his enterprise and determination. Prince Ihtisham-ud-Dauleh was
recalled and succeeded by Zia-ul-Mulk, who brought back Paris from Tehran.
The latter’s cousin Lutfullah raised the tribes against Jabir and a battle
royal ensued between the Muhaisin and the Ka’ab at Manikh 2 miles above
Mohammerah at the junction of the Karun and Bahmanshir. The Muhaisin
were defeated. Jabir fled to Diaji which was then as now Turkish territory
and the Dris tribe, which had supported the Muhaisin, dispersed.
Shaikh Paris thereupon came to Mohammerah supported by Persian
soldiers and three guns : he stayed for a few days, and appointed his brother
Hashim to be Governor of Mohammerah.
Zia-ul-Mulk arrived at Mohammerah in 1860 and seems to have deter
mined to break Haji Jabir’s power by treachery. He treated him well at
first, made Muhammad, Jabir’s son, Governor of Mohammerah, and promised
Haji Jabir the Governorship of Fallahiyeh, telling Muhammad to write to
his father to come to Muran to meet Zia-ul-Mulk who intended to attack
Fallahiyeh forthwith. Haji Jabir rode off to Muran where he was received
with honour. The next night a Captain of the Army of whom Jabir had
complained and who had been punished and degraded by Zia-ul-Mulk in
consequence 1 was sent to execute the Governor’s orders on his quondam
accuser. Jabir was seized, dragged into his tent, and locked up, and shortly
afterwards sent to Shushtar- His son was arrested and handed over to
Paris.
In 1862 Zia-ul-Mulk was recalled and succeeded by Farhad MTrza, under
whom Jabir found favour. He was at once liberated and sent with Persian
soldiery and guns to Mohammerah as Governor. On his arrival, under what
circumstances is not clear, Sultan-bin-Thamir and Hashim bin Ghaith of the
Ka’ab were killed.
Haji Jabir was created Nusrat-ul-Mulk in 1862: he resided at Moham
merah and was Governor of that district without interruption henceforward.
In 1868 Paris went blind and was succeeded by his son Muhammad.
The replacement of Farhad Mlrza by Hamzah Mirza (Hishmat-ud-
Dauleh) in 1869 was the occasion for further changes in the Government of
Fallahiyeh, but Jabir himself was left in peace. The result of these
changes was to weaken the family of the Ka’ab Shaikhs, of whom several
perished in internecine conflicts with the result that in 1880 Hamzah
Mirza was able to make Jabir Governor of Fallahiyeh, Jarrahi, Deh Mulla,
etc.,—the first time that such an appointment had been made by the Persian
Government. This important change had scarcely been effected, however,
when a change of Governors brought back Ihtisham-es-Saltaneh as Governor
of ’Arabistan under the order of Zill-es-Sultan, the titular Governor. He
was preceded by Ja’far Quli Khan 2 as Agent of the Zill-es-Sultan, who re
placed Haji Jabir at Faliahiyeh by Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Paris. A few
months later, however, Ja’far auli Khan was recalled and his place taken by
Ihtisham-es-Saltaneh, who true to his old policy reversed that of his prede
cessor and replaced Ja’far by his uncle Rahman-bin-Tsa bin Ghaith at
Fallahiyeh. He would undoubtedly have taken further steps to undermine
Jabir’s position but the latter died a few months later.
A dispute at once arose regarding the succession : the Persian Govern
ment however made no attempt to subvert the established custom of the place.
To quote a contemporary native record—“A dispute arose between Haji
Jabir’s sons Muhammad and Miz’al as to Mohammerah, Muhaisin, and the
property. The Muhaisin and Dris and those of the Shatt-al-’Arab took the
1 The Governor “ had taken his boots off and put him in the sun ” (native history).
2 It is not clear who this man was—the father of Husain Quli Khan Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. , perhaps, or the son of
Muhammad Taqi Khan Chahar Lang.
c 2