'Military Report on The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's (South Iranian) Oilfield Area' [‎34v] (77/150)

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Mianab district of Shushtar. Somewhat scattered, each section
under its minor sheikh controlled by the Iranian Governors
of Dizful and Shushtar.
(/) Anajijeh —about 3,000 souls, with 000 fighting men.
Located on the right bank of the Karun in the Shushtar area.
Partly sedentary and partly nomadic. Formerly an important
tribe, but now greatly diminished in numbers. Their Sheikh
Yarullah is nominally chief of the tribe but has little authority.
2. East of the Karun.
(а) The Cha'ab.—About 40,000 souls with 8,000 fighting"
men. Located in the Fallahieh (Shadgan) district south of
Ahwaz and as far south as Qasbeh on Abadan Island. Partly
sedentary and partly nomadic. Cultivate rice, wheat, barley
and possess large date groves. Gave some trouble to the Sheikh
of Mohammerah (Khorra ns'.i i rr) during the Great War. Now
under the direct control of the Irani i i Government, to whom
they pay revenue direct. The Sheikhs were deported to Ahwa&
but have now been allowed to return to Fallahieh and receive
small allowances from the revenue collected from the tribesmen,
(б) The Bawieh .—About 15,000 souls, with 3,000 fighting
men. Located in the Ahwaz area. Partly sedentary and partly
nomadic. They cultivate wheat and barley and own large
flocks of sheep and goats and a considerable number of cattle.
After 1916 came under the direct control of the Sheikh of Moham-
merah. All tribal affairs now dealt with by the Governor of
Ahwaz and the Iranian Revenue Department. Sheikhs have
not only lost all power but have been reduced to |K>verty,
Bad harvests have recently r -duced their flocks and herds and
the tribe as a whole is much poorer than it used to be. About
one-third go to the banks of the Shatt-el-Arab every year in
the autumn to obtain work in connection with the date harvest.
The smaller tribes of Hamaid. Zirgan and Salamat, numbering
8,000 souls in all. are allied to them.
3. At Abadan and Mohammerah ( Khorram.diahr).
The Muhaisin .—About 34,000 souls with about 7,000 fighting
men. A sedentary tribe wl.o cultivate dates, wheat and barley
and possess numbers of sheep. The Muhaisin are the Sheikh
of Mohammerah’s tribe and were consistent!}- loyal to him and
to the British during the Great War. Since the departure of
the Sheikh, they have been disarmed, though, like the remainder
of the tribes, they may have retained a few arms secretly. They
pay taxes to the Iranian Government through their sectional
headmen, who in return receive allowances from the Govern
ment.