"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٦] (٦١٦/٥٥٦)

scife agrail'iV VL'Sr*
POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910.
f
49
me Bakhtiari Khans to Hussein Khan and Ali Murad Khan, the former of
the Mohmadi, the latter of the Ahmedi branches of the Bahama! Kuhgelus,
as a guarantee of whose good behaviour the Bakhtiari Chiefs retained host
ages given by the Kuhgelu, notably among whom was the son of Ali Murad
Khan, who was in the charge of Lutf Ali Khan, Amir-i-Muffakham. This
arrangement worked satisfactorily till the month (of September, thereby
proving the correctness of His Majesty's Consul's recommendation as to the
advantageousness of the Bakhtiari Chiefs taking over the Governorship of
the Kuhgelus.
Subsequent on dissensions breaking out among the Bakhtiari Chiefs, the
hostages were released and the Kuhgelu commenced their depredations. The
first of the robberies took place at a place called the Chati Murwarid. The
caravan belonged to Urujin Traders, Persian subjects, the aggressors in this
case being Muzarmi Bakhtiaris assisted by Dushman Ziari Kuhgelus, the
latter carrying off 21 mules, the former the loads.
The second robbery was perpetrated by the above tribes, who carried off
39 mules, carrying property belonging to Deh Kurd and Cham Asmani Trad
ers (Persian subjects).
The third and fourth robberies were of property carried by Messrs.
Lynch Brothers for Persian merchants. The first consisted of 131 lbs. opium,
valued at 5,240 krans, the other three sheets of copper valued at 811 krans.
In August, a ruling was issued by His Majesty's Legation, Tehran, that
in cases where the persons suffering loss were other than British subjects,
Consular intervention was to be confined to assistance of a purely unofficial
character.
The material condition of the road is fair. The advice constantly given
^ „,, T , ^ ' by His Majesty's Consul, Ahwaz, to the
on ition o e ync oa . Bakhtiari Chiefs with regard to cara
vanserais at last commenced to bear fruit in the spring, when Haji Ali Kulli
Khan, Sardar Assad, commenced the building of a caravanserai at the Godar
Bridge, and the repair of the Shalil and Sarkhum caravanserais was taken in
hand by other of the Bakhtiari Khans.
A new system of bridge tolls was inaugurated by the Bakhtiari Khans
in the spring, on a system of paper
Bndge tolls on the Lynch Road. checks, taken at the first bridge passed
over and delivered up at the last. Up to the end of September 46,000 tomans
had been taken, and on the same ratio, allowing for winter cessation of traffic,
it is estimated that not less than 60,000 tomans will have been taken. This
sum being an estimated increase of 12,000 tomans over the actual takings of
the preceding year, which were actually in round numbers 48,000 tomans,
being an increase of 8,000 tomans over the sum estimated in the Administra
tion Report of 1909 as the probable takings for that year.
A new system was also inaugurated with regard to the leasing of cara
vanserais. Instead of the old system of
Leases of Caravanserais on the Lynch Road. ^ lease for the year to th6
highest bidder, the caravanserais were handed over to certain persons, who
had to pay rent for same at the rate of J kran per mule or camel shown by the
bridge check-tickets as having passed over the road.
Fodder and provisions on the Bakhtiari road, more especially between
Malamir and Dopalun, were excessively dear during the period under review.
Tours of His Britannic Majesty's Consul,
(spring tour.)
Owing to circumstances, which will be explained hereafter under the
heading " British Interests—Anglo-Per
sian Oil Company," His Majesty's Con
sul proceeded on tour accompanied by
Mr. G. B. Lloyd of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, on the 27th March, and
proceeded vid Wais and Reghewa to Kima, near Earn Hormuz, which was
In Northern and Southern Arabistan and
the Bakhtiari country.