"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٨‎٢] (٦١٦/٥٦٨)

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910.
61
followed, in January 1910, by his colleague Fath Ali Khan, Salar-i-Muiyid,
who represented the Haji Ilkhani family in the joint Governorship. From
the very inception of their Governorship relations between them were strained
and, in March, there was an open rupture between them, resulting in the
resignation of Ilyas Khan, Sarum-ul-Mulk, who at once proceeded to his home
at Junaghum in the Chahar Mahal, followed by the recall of Fath Ali Khan,
Salar-i-Muiyid. In the month of April Sultan Ali Khan, Shahab-us-Sul-
taneh, and Habibullah Khan were despatched to Behbehan, with a small force,
to take up the joint Governorship, the former representing the Ilkhani family
and the latter the Haji Ilkhani family of the Bakhtiaris.
About this time an expedition against the Tebi sub-tribe was planned, but
was rendered a complete failure, owing to intrigue and mter-family jealousy
on the part of the representatives of the two Bakhtiari families. This
matter is dealt with sufra. On the failure of the Tebi expedition and, sub
sequent on a quarrel between the then Acting Ilkhani and Acting Ilbegi of
the Bakhtiaris, namely, Yussuf Khan, Amir-i-Mujahid, and Lutf Ali Khan,
Amir-i-Muffakham, Sultan Ali Khan was recalled from his joint Governor
ship, followed by his colleague. On the departure df the Bakhtiari represen
tatives in Behbehan from that place, the former Deputy Governor, Mirza Ali
Riza Khan, Bahadur-i-Diwan, who had since been restored to the uncertain
heights of Bakhtiari favour, was appointed Deputy Governor. Immediately
on his re-accession to power, the Bahadur-i-Diwan commenced to repay the
inhabitants of the Kanawat quarter for the part they had played in the previ
ous year in assisting to take him prisoner and despoil his house. In the
summer of 1910 the Bakhtiaris, although openly giving out that they had
given up the Governorship of the Kuhgelu, on account of the turbulence of the
tribe, were, however, secretly discussing the possibility of undertaking the
Governorship during the coming winter and spring, and decided that Yussuf
Khan, Amir-i-Mujahid, was a fitting person for the post, being related to the
Bahamai sub-tribe by marriage. Later, in the summer, Hussein Khan, Baha-
mai was appointed ilkhani of the Kuhgelu, though his post was merely nomi
nal, as many of the sub-tribes would not acknowledge his authority, and, subse
quent on his assumption of that title, was entrusted with the difficult task of
assisting the Deputy Governor of Behbehan to keep order. This trust he
signally failed to keep, for, early in the autumn, severe fighting broke out in
Behbehan, between the two mohalls (quarters) Kanawat and Behbehan,
which continued intermittently till the month of December and was attended
with a large loss of life. Consequent on the fighting in Behbehan, the tribes
took sides, at first the Boir Ali and the Bahamai sided with the Kanawatis,
and the Jegatai and Tebi with the Behbehanis, but later, as the effect of parti
sanship spread, more of the more distant sub-tribes became involved and,
before the cessation of fighting, in December, the Ahmedi Bahamai, the Dush-
man Ziari and the Boir Ahmedi, owning allegiance to Shukrullah Khan, had
joined hands with the Kanawatis, while on the side of the Behbehanis were
the Mohmadi Bahamai, the Tebi (Garmsiri and Sarhaddi) and the Boir
Ahmedi, owning allegiance to the Aulad-i-Karim Khan.
The year closed with the cessation of fighting in Behbehan and the expec
tation that the Nizam-us-Sultaneh, the Governor-General elect of Fars, would,
on arrivail in Shiraz, take the Deputy Governorship out of the hands of the
Bahadur-i-Diwan and entrust it to either some nominee of his own or of the
Shaikh of Mohammerah.
As mentioned in the Administration Report for 1909, Mirza Ali Riza
Khan, Bahadur-i-Diwan, was imprisoned immediately on the arrival oi the
Bakhtiari Governor of Behbehan. Later, in the spring of 1910, he was con
ducted to Malamir to appear before the Acting Ilkhani and Acting Ijbegi of
the Bakhtiaris, by whom he was a short time later released, given a khilaat
{robe of honour) and allowed to return to Behbehan with all the marks o
Bakhtiari favour, for which, he, no doubt, had to pay handsomely. W i e
imprisoned he got into secret communication with the Acting Ilbegi, u
Ali Khan, Amir-i-Muffakham, through whose mediation he was later release .