'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎183r] (370/488)

FOR THE yiJAR 19J3,
99
The Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , seeing that his bluff had failed of effect, lent a willing ear to
these proposals, and, after some discussion, agreed to hire 250 guards from tha
Kuhgelu at the rate of Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 8 per mensem for each man. In addition he
provided these guards with ammunition, and, in some cases, with rifles. The
ftuhgelu, as a guarantee of their good faith, gave hostages to the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , who
remained with him throughout the summer. These guards were posted on the
Sarrak -Sbalil section ot the road, the only section exposed to Kuhgelu raids.
The rest of the road was guarded in the usual way by Bakhtiari guards
paid by remission of revenue. The cost of the Kuhgelu guards amounted
to Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 8,000 for pay alone, and the total expense to which the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
W as put was estimated by himself at Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 15,000, of which sum the
Kuhgelu received at least Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 10,000.
The Kuhgeus congratulated themselves on their bargain, calculating that
they had profited more by taking service than they would have by raiding the
road. In years of disorder the most that the raiders can hope for is to rob one
or two large caravans before the news of their activity reaches Ispahan and
Ahwaz and traffic is suspended.
The measures taken by the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. worked perfectly, and not a single
robbery was reported on the section of the road entrusted to the Kuhgelu
guards. The guards loyally^ observed their part of the bargain and refrained
from demanding rahdari or interfering in any way with passing caravans.
The policj of the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. in thus s setting a thief to catch a thief ' has been
seTerely criticised by the other Bakhtiari Khans and others whose opinio a is of
value. They argue that Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Jang, by virtually paying blackmail to the
Kuhgelu, has exposed the weakness of the Bakhtiaris and confirmed the
Kuhgelu in their opinion that they are more than a match for them. They
ajssert that similar measures might possibly prove suocessful for Another year,
but, sooner or later, the Kuhgelu Chiefs will realise that they have the whip
hand and will demand remuneration quite beyond tha means of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. .
Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -iJang himself, in a moment of expansion, admitted that tha steps taken
were only temporary measures and that a successful punitive expeditiqa
against the Kuhgelu remained the only permanent solution of the problem.
The road guards were withdrawn in October when the downward migra
tion of the tribesmen assured the safety of the road.
No losses of British owned "goods on the road, though robberies were
reported to the Vice-Consulate daring the year.
The following table shows the goods forwarded over the road and the number
of animals employed during the year under report, as compared with the three
preceding years.
Description.
1910.
1011, !
1012.
101J.
ihmu to IspahaH . , . ^
Cwts .
A
. , . 26,397|
12,844
J7,64«
7 t m
lepatan to Ahwaz . , . ^
Cwte ,
Animak
. 2,501
wof
2,203
wm
Mio
J^842£
6,950
It should be noted that the above figures refer only to goods forwarded by
Messrs. Lynch Brothers and represent roughly only about half of the total
quantity of goods and animals passing over the road.
During the year 1912, Messrs. Lynch Brothers undertook the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of
the Sooiete de Tombac, and tobacco exported by that firm was included in
hynch's transport statistics. It amounted to 6,997 owts, in 1912 and 11,934
cwts. in 1913. To obtain a just comparison for tha four year® these figures
should be deducted from the totals for their raspectiva years. Xt will tken bs
■2* 2