'Military Report on S.-W. Persia, Vol. I. Bakhtiari Garmsir' [‎11v] (27/168)

There is also a considerable resident Kuhgalu population,
occupying the south-east extremity of the district. This tract
has only been acquired by the Bakhtiari in comparatively
recent times, in the course of a gradual process of aggression, which
has left the original population undisturbed. These quondam Kuh
galu fall principally within the sphere of Mahmud Khan, and seem
to have acquiesced readily enough in their transference to the Bakh
tiari, of whom it would appear safe to consider them now an
integral part.
Out of consideration for the strictly limited scope of the present
work, the tribes have been viewed purely from a local standpoint,
but it has been made clear that the forces ultimately governing and
directing the affairs and conduct of the tribes have to be looked
for farther afield. These forces reside solely in the Haft Lang
ruling family, whose shadow dominates the whole country, and in
whom centre the hopes and fears of the whole population.
Besides controlling the domestic affairs and relations of the
tribes,, they direct what may be called the foreign policy of the
Bakhtiari,
Towards the Persian Government they stand at once in the
position of hereditary leaders of the tribes, owners of the land, and
governors of the province, for the revenue of which they are,
in virtue of patents of Governorship, held directly responsible.
Two of their number hold formal appointments from the Persian
Government under the titles of “ Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. and “ Ilbegl ”, and
the functions of these officials are analogous to those of the Governor
of an ordinary Persian province. These appointments are much
coveted for the additional authority which they confer on their
holders, and they afford the only hold which the Persian Gov
ernment has over them, By the successive elevation and deposi
tion of different Khans they are able to foster those domestic
jealousies and dissensions to which they are naturally prone,
and to introduce a state of faction and discord which frequently
makes united action or policy impossible, and reacts prejudi
cially on their authority at home and abroad, This said,
however, the means of control enjoyed by the Persian Govern
ment have been fully stated, as it appears to have become con
vinced of its inability to pursue any course of control or coercion
entailing the use of force. The Khans on their part, while scoffing
at the weakness of the Central Government, and declaring their
contempt for it, in reality stand in very real fear of it, knowing
by experience that their own domestic jealousies put them so far
at its mercy as to make intestine war a constant menace, and the