'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎31r] (66/610)

22nd he had a’force of 3,000 to 4,000 tribesmen encamped within
a few miles of Shiraz, and w r as making every effort to induce
Quvvam-ul-Mulk, head of the Khamseh Arab tribes, to join
him in revolt.
There were about 2,300 British-Indian troops, at that time> i^iian'xroopso
in Shiraz, but their mobility was impeded by apprehension of
sedition in the city and amongst the South Persia Rifles, neces
sitating the retention of a strong garrison. However, about 1,600
Indian troops moved out on May 24th, and drove Saulat-ud-
Dauleh out of his camp with much loss.
Meantime the post at Khaneh-Zinian had yielded, and the
garrison came into Shiraz without their British officers—Captain
Wills and Sergeant Coomber—who had been murdered before
the post was surrendered. An inquiry was instituted and three
Persian officers and eleven men were shot.
The Indian troops could not follow up their victory to a
distance from their base, nor entangle themselves in difficult
mountain country in face of an enemy who might possibly be
able to bring much superior forces into the field, especially if he
should succeed in inducing Quvvam-ul-Mulk to join him. Conse
quently Saulat-ud-Dauleh was only repulsed not defeated, and
quickly rallied his men, and reappeared before Shiraz with a
following of 6,000 men, although Quvvam-ul-Mulk remained
loyal to Farman Farma, Governor General of Fars.
During the next six weeks the garrison confined its operations
to sallies against the enemy, and awaited development of
counter measures in course of preparation by the Indian Govern
ment, who early sent reinforcements to Bandar Abbas, and
despatched two battalions to Bushire, as the nucleus of a force
destined to march on Shiraz through the heart of the enemy
country. «
The insurgents, disquieted by the news of these measures, ,
and worsted in their encounters with the Indian troops, gradually
lost heart, and the garrison was able, on July 10th, to send a
small column to the relief of their posts at Dehbid and Abadeh.
The latter post, which was relieved on July 17th, had been in
some danger and efforts had been made from Tehran, to get the
Governor of Isfahan to send a Bakhtiari force, or the Cossack
detachment stationed in that city, to attack the besiegers.
Meantime the Governor General had been employing other
methods to improve the situation. He obtained, after long delay,
official sanction from the Cabinet to depose Saulat-ud-Dauleh
from the post of Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Qashqai tribes, and to appoint
his brother 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. Ihtisham, in his place. He also detached