"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎١‎١‎٨] (٦١٦/٢٤٠)

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908.
45
quarters in a fort just outside the town. The Sardar with his various
supporters soon capitulated and he was removed and confined in the house
of the Imam Juma, and council was taken to put him to death. In the
meantime the Sagwand Chiefs were released and joined the Pateh us-Sultan,
who issued a manifesto to the Sagwand who had remained down in Arabi^tan.
In this manifesto he indicated the intention of organising a general advance
against the Waliof Pusht-i-Kuh.
This dream was not, however, to be realised. The Sardar Mukarram,
thrown on his wits, succeeded in addressing a letter to the townspeople point
ing out the terrible consequences which would accrue to the towm were
his sacred person abused.
The argument was taken up by one Mullah Hashid to such good
purpose that the people rose, released and reinstated the Sardar, demolished
his late prison, and imprisoned the Imam Juma. Some shooting took place,
and the Pateh-us-Sultan and the Sagwand Khans, seeing the town now against*
them, fled with their followers.
The Sardar has since remained to all appearance firmly reinstalled at
least in his local authority.
64. The only f^ct that remains to be chronicled is the death of Khanjan.
He arrived in March in the course of his wanderings at Bairanwand camp
in the Ohingai country, where he sickened and died. Eutnours of foul play
were at first current and connected his death with the presence in the camp
ef a daughter of his old rival Mehr Ali Khan, w^ho was poisoned by the Salar-
ud-Daulah.
Later accounts say, however, that he had been sufiVring for some days
from severe fever, and that his death was due entirely to this natural cause.
However caused, Khanjan's death is only to be deeply regretted. He
was a man of great vitality and force of character rendered attractive by
a certain personal charm.
Though lacking the superficial knowledge of the affairs of ths outer
world which passes tor culture in Persia, he was wide-minded and had the
wisdom and sagacity which are born of a practical and intimate experience
of men under strenuous circumstances, and is not to be gained by a mere
indifferent acquaintance, however extensive. He had a practical talent for
affairs and the control of men, combined with a sincerity and good faith,
and enlightened ambitions which made him strangely unique in Luristan
and would have rendered him happily conspicuous in more favourable
surroundings.
He has passed away in his prime as his age probably did not much
exceed 45 }ears, and the Biitish Government has lost one who was anxious
to serve it and whose service, had the occasion arisen to use it, would have
formed a happv contrast to the cankered fidelity of our time-honoured friends
the Bakhtiari Khans. In this country evorythinar depends on the character
of individuals and the occurrence of relative probity and sincerity is rare
bevond belief. The whole race is infected with avarice to which parentage
may be traced the had faith, corruption and majority of other vices which
go to form the serious side of the Persian character.
65. The Lurutnn Road Scheme.—Th.Q Luristan road scheme has not
come forward during the year in any practical form.
The professed interest of the Sardar Mukarram in the opening of a route
between Dizful and Khurramabad has already been referred to. It remains
to mention that the Muin-ut-Tujjar approached the Legation on the subject
with a proposal that the Persian ^ Transport Company should make over its
rights to him or to a company organised by him.
He represented that the influence he could exert on the Majlis and the
fact of his beino- a Persian would make it possible for him to render the
concession workable, which it was impossible tor a Toreign Company
to do.