ملف رقم ٣٨٩٣ لسنة ١٩١٢ "بلاد فارس: خانات بختياري وطريق لينش؛ العلاقات بين بختياري والمحمرة" [و‎‎١‎٣] (٣٠٨/٣٠)

during the past nine months will be wasted, and it will again be necessary to
expend much time and money in restoring order.
If a chief is appointed in my place before my departure it is possibe that
the present state of affairs will continue without any further trouble or expense,
NASIR BAKHTIARI.
Translation of a letter dated the 3rd Rajah 1331 (jth June igJ3)Jrom Sardar.
i-Jang, Deh Diz, to Captain A. J. //. Grey, I.A., Ispahan.
After Complements.
I wrote to you in detail from Malamir giving you all the news of myself.
After writing that letter, and as stated therein, I stayed a few days more
in Malamir until the Tebi and Bahmai tufangchis arrived at Sarrak and other
important points as far as Shalil, accompanied by their chiefs. I left Malamir
yesterday and arrived to-day at Deh Diz. On the way I gave necessary instruc
tions to the guards, informed them of the boundaries they were to guard,
stowed them the positions they had to watch and fixed places for their residence.
I will stay a few days in Deh Diz to make arrangements for guards to watch
the Shalil-Dopulun section and having arranged everything satisfactorily will start
for (’Haq).
You have been informed by me that the caravan road is quite safe and that
the a rangements made with the Tebi and Bahmai Khans for guarding the road
are very satisfactory because they were the persons responsible for the raids and
robberies on the road. Each of them has given two members of his family (sons
or brothers) as hostages and they have appointed their own relatives as chiefs of
the guards and accepted responsibility for the safety of the road and for this
purpose have provided 250 tufangchis. They have received large sums in cash
in return for their service and l have arranged for them to receive their salary
from the Bridge tolls during the next four months, the payment to be made
monthly in advance.
It is impossible that even small robberies or raids should now take place on
the road. Besides this l will appoint warlike Bakhtiari soldiers to look after the
guarding and security of the road.
I am satisfied with these arrangements and I hope that no disturbances will
occur hereafter.
NASIR BAKHTIARI.
Enclosure A in above letters.
Since the date of my arrival in Bakhtiaristan up till now I have performed my
duties under my appointment, maintained order throughout for the happiness of
the people, kept the caravan road open and safe, hired labourers to repair the
road (which is nearly complete) and paid them money, and never hesitated to
carry out my duties even if expense and loss was involved in doing so, with the
result that the road, the Bakhtiari territory, Chahar Mahal, Behbehan and
Kuhgilu are all in order.
Notwithstanding my endeavours some difficulties have made their appearance
in my work and hereafter I will not be able to carry on my duties. I therefore
considered it better to resign and have already telegraphed to their Excellencies
the Samsam-us-Sultaneh, Sardar Assad and Sardar Muhtesham urging them to
appoint a Governor (Ilkhani) soon and allow me to leave Bakhtiaristan and go to
Ispahan or Tehran for treatment as I am not keeping good health. I have
notified my resignation to His Excellency the British Minister also.
I am thinking of staying in Deh Diz until I receive replies to my telegrams.
I am now sending a special sowar to Ispahan, and am sending instructions (to
my agent) to remind the Khans to give me their reply and send it when received