"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٥] (٣٩٦/٢١٧)

38 ANNUAL EEPORT OF THE PERSIAN GTJLF POLITICAL EESILENCT
march fron Shush and succeeded in restoring order. Two days later a moie-
able column from Ahwaz consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery entered
the town.
Trials were held by the Assistant Political Officer assisted by the Deputy
Governor of Shushtar and the sentences were confirmed by the General Officer
Commanding, Karun Front. Three members of the Kalantar family,viz,,
Agha Saiyid, Agha Mustapha and Agha Mirza Muhammad Reza Khan were
sentenced to death and shot and nine other persons received terms of imprison
ment ranging from one to six years, with deportation.
At the beginning of August Captain Noel left Ahwaz for Dalun where he
Kugheia aft™. ? 0 his arrangements for a
tour through the Kughelu country. It
was bis intention to visit the Bahmai Chief, Hussain Khan, at Qalai Mumbi
and travel thence via the Taybi and Boir Ahmedi countries to Palad in
Bakhtiari territory. Unfortunately the hostility of the Taybies, who had been
consistently looting the Lynch road and were rather nervous in consequence,
made progress beyond Mumhi impossible and Captain Noel was compelled to
retrace his steps and enter the Bakhtiari country by the Lynch Road. He was
able to glean much useful information during his stay at Qalai Mumbi and
obtained some specimens of coal and iron ore which have been sent to England
for analysis.
An excellent site for a hill station, at a height of 8,000 to 9,000 feet, has
been discovered in the Mungasht range which divides the Bakhtiari countrj
from Kughelu.
The beginning of the year found preparatiors in progrecs for the formation
Bakhtiari affairs. ot a Bakhtiari Levy Corps, one of
several schemes which had been devised
for the purpose of counteracting Russian influence on the Isfahan side of the
border, and, in February, formal sanction was received to the raising of a
force of 200 infantry and 100 cavalry under British Officers with headquarters
in Chahar Mahal.
In conformity with the same policy Mr. Harris, the then Acting Vice-
Consul at Isfahan, was deputed to Dehkurd to watch over our interests. Un
happily the local intrigues so preyed upon his mind that he took his own life
three months after his arrival in the Bakhtiari country. No successor was
appointed.
The intrigues of Amir Mujahid had rendered it almost impossible for
Sardar Muhtashim to continue as Ilkhani and, in order to leave the latter a
clear field, it was arranged that Amir Mujahid should leave the country for
an indefinite period. Sardar Zaffar, in return for the settlement by us of his
outstanding claims against the Persian Government and the promise of our
support of his candidature on the Ilkhaniship next falling vacant, agreed to
spend eight months in India.
i ^ arrival of the Ilkhani and Ilbegi in the low country, it became
c ear that their attitude had changed and that they w r ere in no mood to further
our interests. This change of attitude was due primarily to the administrative
measures adopted by us at Dizful and Shushtar, measures dictated by the mili-
ary s^uatron but having as their result the elimination of Bakhtiari influence
S ! 1 f e 1 t . 0wris wit f 1 C0118i derable financial loss to the Khans. Moreover, Sardar
Muhtashim was tired of office and anxious to resign.
In these circumstances support of our policy could only have been pur-
chased with ^ concessions which we were unwilling to make and accordingly
His Britanmc Majesty s Vice-Consul submitted proposals for a new combination
Ilbe»i e^IIOrs, viz * Sardar Zaffar as Ilkhani and Sardar Ashjaa as
Qo a is !^ r ^ ^ rst su PP or t e( i tiie n ew combination ; the resignation of
sardar Muhtashim was accepted and a telegram sent to Sardar Zaffar asking
Mni v.'/? e ® ver < the Government. The departure from the country of Amir
MnwL ^ Tes V 0 ™ e , t0 the friendly intervention of the Shaikh of
further. promised to support the new Ilkhani, was not pressed