"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٣‎١] (٣٩٦/٢٦٨)

FOK THE TEAE 1918. 27
with the Sardar for the institution in Narmashir of an irregular force of Levy
Camelry 100 strong, as a part of the South Persia Kifles establishment. No
British officer being available, Kissaidar Ahmad Yar (SGLh Jacob's Horse),
one of the Instructors of the Kerman Brigade, was detailed with the local
rank of Sultan to traiu the Camelry who were to be collected by Sardar
Mujallal. Ihe force was not intended to be anythiug more than a substitute
for the abolished Jambaz sowars, nor to be used for anything but police work
and defence in Bam, Narmashir, Jamal Barez and possibly Jiruft; but it caused
the greatest consternation among the Bameri and allied border clans, who
foresaw a curtailment of the periodic raids into the fat Narmashir and Jiruft
lands by which they "had profited for so long, As a result Sardar Mujallal,
who bad hoped to secure good fighting material by recruiting among the same
border Baluch who had formerly been in receipt of Jambaz pay, found it /
impossible for himself and Ahmad Yar to keep\) force together ; 70 of the
100 originally recruited deserted in April, 40 of whom under their officer, /
Mir Muhammad Taqi, at once reverted to their former predatory habiis. In
May Ahmad Yar, who had made his headquarters at Burj-i-Muhammad (8
miles South-East of Fahreh in Narmashir), was in an awkward position with
only 25-30 men and no support nearer than Kerman, 170 miles distant.
Luckily a small composite detachment under Captain Kreyer, Officer Command
ing Dehaneh Baghi, happened to arrive in the distiict at the end of May escort
ing a caravan carrying specie for the Imperial Bank of Persia from Birjand to
Kerman; acting under orders from Kerman, Captain Kreyer after handing
the specie over to the Bam authorities marched against Mir Muhammad Taqi,
whom he found with 40 men at Kasimabad, 20 miles South-East of Fahreh. In
the ensuing engagement Muhammad Taqi and three others were killed, the rest
escaping. After this the prospects of the Camelry brightened, and their
numbers reached HO or more. Unfortunately, however, on 8th October Bis-
saidar Ahmad Yar was shot in the bazaar at Bam in broad daylight by Yar
Muhammad Khan, son of the Bameri Sardar.
The murder of one w r ho had borne himself well and had been respected
throughout Bam and Narmashir caused much local indignation. The Baluch,
who were in Pam district in some numbers, left it hurriedly fearing reprisals,
and concentrated under Yar Muhammad in Narmashir. The situation was
eased, however, by the arrival at Bam on 16th October under the command of
Captain Coffey of a detachment of South Persia Rifles Infantry which had
already been under orders for Narmashir under " Iload Construction "
below). Captain Coffey found Narmashir quiet and the Baluch fled.
Arrangements had at once been made through the local authorities for get
ting into touch with the Bameri Sardar and if possible inducing him and Yar
Muhammad to come into Bam or Kerman with a view to settling the repara
tion to be paid by the Bameri for the murder. Both Nawab Khan and his
son expressed their readiness to come in under guarantees; but in the in
fluenza epidemic w r hich shortly afterwards ravaged Narmashir and Persian
Baluchistan Yar Muhammad died and his father was taken seriously ill, so
that by the end of the year no further progress had been made in the case.
After the death of Ahmad Yar the Camelry deteriorated, and their numbers
were further greatly reduced by influenza. Early in January the Officer
Commanding Kerman Brigade proposed that the Camelry should be disbanded
and this was sanctioned. As, however. Bam and Narmashir had been free
from Baluch lawlessness and incursions since the arrival of the South Persia
Rifles detachment and as the local Persian authorities made strong representa
tions for its retention on this account, it has been decided to keep it in the
district for the present.
Condition of roads. —Thanks to the organization by the South Persia
Bifles of the Bandar Abbas-Tarum-
Bandar Abbas-Keman routes. Saidabad road as a military Line of Com
munications, with posts, a telephone and regular escorts, the two easterly
routes, via Daulatabad and Jiruft respectively, were practically unmolested
by the Baharlu throughout the year. The Baluch on their side do not seem
to prey on caravan traffic to any great extent. On the Saidabad road ilseli