File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎479r] (962/1044)

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280. On 25th January, the signaller at Abadeh telegraphed a report
that, on 18th January, 200 Basiri robbers passed Surmek moving eastward and
further that the notorious |Khosrou Khan Faragheh and Naib had also sent
their men in the direction of Yezd.
A subsequent report from the same source stated that a caravan returning
from Yezd was looted by robbers—date and place not mentioned.
Khosrou Khan and his band have since been reported by Abadeh to have
returned to Faragheh about 7th February with about 2,000 sheep and
60 camels and 40 mules. They are said to have gone back to fetch more. Of
the Basiri tribesmen, there is no further news in Abadeh. (A tele°Tam of 4th
February from Yezd reported Farsi tribesmen looting in the Nair.-Nou Gumbaz
tract, and an engagement between them and the forces of the Governor-General of
Yezd, near Zainuddm, in which the robbers were routed and most of the plunder
recovered).
281. From Ardistan Telegraph Department reports have been received of
serious assaults on 13th and 14th February on two gholams of the Department
on inspection in the neighbourhood of Nayistanek, by a band of 60 Basiris,
part of a larger band said to number 300 under one Ramazan Khan. From
these reports, it would appear that the band had captured many other prisoners,
whom they tied together with strands of telegraph wire cut from the adjoining line!
282. Trouble is anticipated on the northern border, owing to the reported
presence in that region of Amir-i-Mufakham, Bakhtiari, with, it is said, 200 men.
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283. (a) Tehran Road. — During the week ending 20th January 1912, a Roads,
considerable quantity of local produce destined for Tehran, which had long
been held over owing to fear of Naib Husain, was despatched northward as a
consequence of the reported arrangement between Naib Husain and the Persian
Government, vide paragraph 163.
(6) The post of 8th January from Tehran, which came in on 20th, explained
its delay to be due to absence of horses on the Kashan-Ispahan tract.
(c) The road is apparently safe. Posts from the north are arriving regularly,
but still take about 8 or 9 days from Tehran to Ispahan.
284. (a) Shiraz Road .—On 14th January, as reported the next day
by the Indo-European Telegraph Department, at Abadeh, the postal wagon
from Abadeh for Ispahan was attacked near the Burj-i-Gardangir (the bound
ary between Fars and Ispahan, scene of the incident of 29th November last)
by a band of about 40 Sarhadis. The post is said to have been entirely destroy
ed and the four post-horses carried off. The postman escaped to Yezdikhast.
(6) Since 20th January when a caravan of about 200 animals from Shiraz
begin to arrive, there have been constant arrivals of caravans from the south for
a week. One of these claims to have come up from Bushire to Shiraz imme
diately in the wake of Mr. Smart, and gives details of the Kazerun incident,
stating the enemy’s butcher’s bill to have been 35 killed and 20 wounded.
(c) Kumisheh reported a caravan for Ispahan with produce attacked, on or
about 5th February at Qalla’ Ahmedabad near the Orchini Pass, by 16
robbers, said to be Mahiyaris, 10 on foot and 6 mounted, several mules and loads
carried off, also cash robbed. Two of the mules were subsequently found at
Kumisheh ; but the Governor of that place has been unable to trace the robbers.
(d) Abadeh reported, during the week ending 10th February, that a band of 45
Kuhgiluis had seized and occupied the tower between Yezdikhast and Shulgi-
stan. Caravans and post, which arrived at Abadeh, were held up there not ventur
ing to proceed.
(e) On 11th February, a hasid arrived at Abadeh from Yezdikhast, reporting
that some Deh Haqi donkeymen on their way to Abadeh were attacked by robbers
at the tower, south of Yezdikhast, stripped of everything they had and two of their
number killed.