'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎4] (29/466)

The Ibtlsham-uLSultanal^ Ibrahim Mirza, is reported to be a ttreafe
ernor, careless of the interests of the subjects he rules or
Ihtisham-ul-Sultanah, ^ improving the resources of the country and anxious
alone to increase the Mudahhil or a personal pickings/' such as bribes, fees, &c.
I sent my orderly to inform him of my arrival, expressing' a wish to visit
him; this action was necessary in order to obtain from him a safe conduct to
Dizful. I may here remark that I travelled as an officer of the Indian Army
on five months' leave of absence, and orderly Shahsowar as a friend, in, tlie
same service as myself, a Khan, bent on a pilgrimage to Karbalah, the great
Shiya' shrine as soon as he had seen Tehran, Isfahan, Sluraz, and other world-
famed towns of Persia. The prince was ill and unable to see me, but sent his
Wjzir, Mirza Buzurg Khan, Mustaufi, Arabistan, to call upon me, as well as the
colonels of cavalry and infantry of his escort, the former Hajji Ibrahim Khan,
son of the Ilbegi and nephew of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Bakhtians.
The escort consisted of, it was said, one regiment of infantry, the Bakhtian
horse, 200 strong, and a battery of field artillery ; four field guns were seen,
but the existence of any artillery men is doubted; no
Persian Camp. colonel of artillery came to visit me, nor did I see one
when I visited the camp: many of the infantry had been sent to Shustar, with
donkeys, to fetch grain for the force, and the majority of the horses had been
dispersed amongst the grazing grounds in the vicinity. The men occupied
bell tents) the tents of the senior officers were large, commodious, well pitched,
well carpeted and the floors boarded; they were all of white canvas. None of
the junior officers were presented. In the intercourse between officers and
. men, Persian etiquette rather than discipline was ob-
iscip me. served ; the men saluted and remained standing) those
of higher rank sat round about, at a respectful distance, after repeating the
requisite salutations and making the customary bows. All spoke deferentially
and in a low key. The " silver stick^ a man of great ceremonial weight, stood
at the door as sentry. There were no sentries over the camp [see page 12).
I was treated with every courtesy and given a safe conduct to Dizful, i
but was warned not to go beyond that town as the road thence to Khoram-
abad had for some time past been closed by the Dirikawand and Bairanwand,
tribes of Feili Lurs occupying the defiles in the hills through which it passes.
Halting a day at Ahwaz, I examined, during the early morning, as closely
as the presence of the prince would allow, the obstructions there blocking the j
navigation of the river, and the neighbourhood, with a view to turning these ^
obstacles by canal or tramway; and in the afternoon I went out shooting with
the Bakhtians, a band of excellent horsemen, well mounted, good sportsmeu,
killing their birds freely firing from horseback, and at times, followingjupa
bird, firing at full gallop.
My movements were watched, and the Wizir was anxious to find out
whether I was inquisitive about the Karun or not. As at the time I was 1
trying the paces of a horse presented for purchase, and whilst riding over the
ground I affected to be far more interested in it than in the Karun and its j
obstructions.
The difficulties that beset the passage of the hills between Dizful and
Khoramabad already began to make themselves felt. As before mentioned, !
by good fortune, excellent letters of introduction to both the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. and |
Ilbegi of the Bakhtians had been obtained; the former it was now learnt was
at Ab-i-bid, one march to the north of Dizful, and to his instrumentality^ ^
became more and more apparent, that 1 must look to effect my purpose, & [