'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎55] (86/466)

55
Muliammerali possesses considerable advantages as a trading mart, and
places in Persian hands a strategical position of the highest value in the
event o£ war with Turkey.
If held by a foreign power, that power will enjoy considerable political
and commercial advantages {see Part III),
The town and its dependent districts are now governed by Shaikh Mizal
{see page 2), who appears to have fairly well established his authority. He
pays an annual revenue of 45,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. {Administration Report, 1883-84).
Shaikh Rahmah is now Governor of Felahiyah and Mir Abdulla of Deh
Mula. The former pays a revenue of 15^000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and the latter of 12,000
tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
Previously to May 11878, the Felahiyah section of the Ka'b Arabs was
governed by Shaikh Sufti-bin-Imbadir, their hereditary Chief. On his mur
der by his cousin he was succeeded by Shaikh Rahmah. At the same time
the districts of Deh-ul-Mula, Jarrahi, Hindiyan, and Bandar Ma^shur were
detached from the Felahiyah jurisdiction and placed under Amir Abdullah of
Deh-Mula.
The Ka^b Arabs are Shiya^ Muhammadans, and are partly Persianised
both in costume and habits. They intermarry with Per-
Eehgion. sians. Pure Arabs will not intermarry w T ith them.
Their women enjoy greater freedom than either the Persians or Turks; they do
not veil.
The Arabs of Khuzistan are intelligent, but are regarded by the Persians
as dull fellows. The Arabs regard the Persians as
ar«c erac o^a y. cowar( j]y ro g U 0 S ^ w l 10 | ia Y e g. 0 ti the better of them by
intrigue, and believe that, could they combine, their expulsion would be an
easy matter. Internal feuds and jealousies render a combination impossible.
Between the lower classes of Arabs and Persians the hostile feeling is undis
guised [Rohertson),
The Montafik Arabs, above referred to, are a small tribe chiefly of import-
■ m f flv a u ance on account of the number of prosperous Fellah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour.
tribes protected by it. The tribe are Sunnis, but the
subordinate tribes mostly Shiyas.
Ttie Shaikh of the Montafik has 30^000 fighting Arabs at his command
[Plowden).
Those of the tribe camping in Hawizah territory pay tribute to its ruler
when he is strong enough to exact it.
The Mamasenni.
The country inhabited by the Mamasenni is known as Shulistan; to the
east it is bounded by the dependencies of Fars ; to the south by Kazran ; to
the west by the Kuhgehlu; to the north by the Ardekan chain (Kashkai
pastures).
The Mamasenni or Muhammad Husaini are divided into several tribes,
numbering some 3,000 or 4,000 families. Their principal stronghold, Kal'a
Safid, a diz^ of size, elevated 1 ,500 feet above the level, and said to be 4
miles in circumference and well supplied with water, is now of no importance,
the tribe being well under subjection; they are now an agricultural and
pastural people, through whose territory it is fairly safe to pass {see page