"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٦‎٧‎٦] (١٢٦٢/١٩٣)

1676
whose assumption of power the details below have been "^preserved by
the author just quoted
The threatened discharge of Suleyman Khan from the administration of the
province actually took place : bribery and court intrigue had done their work. The
Christian had played the same game, and ventured a high stake; a purse of tomans
to the Shah, and 20,000 more to the Amir were spent in vain, Khanler Mirza,
the favourite uncle of the Shah took possession of the province. He had previously
governed the Gulpaigan district, near Isfahan, where his stern and unflinching
distribution of justice gained him the greatest respect. To this were now added
Liiristan, KMzistan, and the Bakhtiyari mountains, so that Khanler Mirza ruled
over the largest, richest, and most important region throughout Persia. As a natural
consequence of the change of governors, the whole of the above districts were in an
excited state, and with difficulty prevented from breaking out into open rebellion. A
few judicious examples were made by the Prince, whose iron rule soon made itself felt,
alike among Liirs and Arabs. Ai the end of 1851, the Only disaffection still existing
throughout the Prince's dominion was at its north-western extremity, among a division
of the Feyli Liirs.
Early in 1852 Khanlar Mirza visited Kut Nahr Hashing intending
to repair the dyke there, the failure of which had ruined Hawizeh some
15 or 20 years earlier; but it does not appear that his efforts were
crowned by any greater success than those of the Mo^tamad-ud-Dauleh
in 1842.
The traveller already twice cited f has left this description of tlie
Prince Governor as he was in 1852 :
His Highness, Khanler Mirza, might then be about thirty-five years of age, and
was a remarkably handsome man, although somewhat pale, the result, it was whispered,
of dissipation. His intelligent features, high forehead, full black eyes, and aquiline
nose, would have anywhere rendered him an object of attraction. He did not
generally bear a good name, but, from circumstances which afterwards presented them'
selves to my notice, I arrived at the conclusion that he was an admirable governor of
a Persian Province, stern and unrelenting to the criminal, but usually mild and lenient
towards othero. If he called on his subjects for a large increase of their taxes (the
chief charge against him), it was, I would fain believe, with the intention of applyh^
the proceeds to the,public good. He was building and repairing bridges, erecting
dams for the better distribution of water, and engaged in other substantial works,
which, if fully carried out, would be of the utmost consequence to the prosperity of
Khuzistan. He was reported to be cruel in his punishments, but that is as much the
fault of the people as of their rulers ; they never have a due respect for the authority
of a governor unless a few executioos take place on his assumption of office.
The Persian forces expelled from Muhammareh and Ahwaz by the
British in the war of 1856-57 were commanded by Khanlar Mim,
but the Prince retained the government of 'Arabistan for some time
after.
# Loftus, in his Travels and Researches, pages 355-356.
t Ibidem, pages 361-362.