'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎96] (131/466)

96
The villages of Fendan are partly inhabited by Armenians. Here
^Muhammad Taki purchased villages and acquired others and endeavoured to
•encourage agriculture and to settle his Iliyats on its fertile soil. Opposed
by the Persian government, his attempt was but partially successful. It s
inhabitants are inoffensive, with a fair reputation for courage. They and a
large body of men from Gulpaigan form the Fendan regiment (see page 20).
The actual personal property of Muhammad Taki was estimated at 1,500
buffaloes, 50 excellent Arab mares, some valued at £250, 50 good Ka^b stallions
600 brood mares, 500 horses of Lur breeds, and about 10,000 sheep and goats-
of cash, he possessed little.
Jealous of his authority over the tribes and his supposed great wealth
the Persian government broke his power, split up the tribes under various
chiefs, and forfeited to the crown the villages of Fendan. Lured by the most
sacred oaths on the Koran, he imprudently gave himself up to the Persians
and never afterwards returned to his hills. After his downfall Jafer Kiili
Khan, of the Haft Lang tribe of Bakhtianwand, rose to chief power. At times
he was able to assemble 5,000 well armed and desperate men. His main
stronghold is the Diz, 2 days^ march from Shustar in a north-east direction,
a natural stronghold, 3 miles in circumference, with perpendicular,
inaccessible sides, well supplied with water and with a few acres of arable
land and good pasture.
He raised himself to power by a series of most atrocious murders and
acts of treachery. With the most determined bravery he defied the Persian
power and carried his plundering expeditions to the neighbourhoods of
Karman, Yazd, Shiraz and even Tehran; the name of a Bakhtian sufficed to
put to flight the boldest of the peasantry; his followers, the bravest and
most barbarous of the tribes, adhered to him so long as he led them to
plunder. His following, the Baidarwand and part of the Duraki tribes, en
camped during the winter near the Diz, in Shimbar and Andakau, among
the hills of Lali and about Got wand on the Karun.
Their summer quarters were in the plains of Bazuft and Chahar-malial
and the neighbouring mountains. Jafer Kuli Khan built a small fort in Jella-
khan. He eventually obtained the support of the Persian government.
Next in political importance to Muhammad Taki was Kalb Ali Khan
of the Haft Lang tribe of Duraki, and considered to be the legitimate chief
of the Haft Lang. A few subdivisions of the Dinarunis adhered to him.
He waged continuous war against Muhammad Taki and Jafer Kuli.
His Diz or fortress, the Diz-Shahi, near the river Dizful, a day's journey north
east of the town (18 miles) is considered to be impregnable. It is a plain, 15
miles in circumference, the summit of a lofty hill with inaccessible sides; water
is abundant, the soil fertile and grazing good; villages have been built upon
it {see page 201).
His followers were brave and warlike and noted marauders. The Haft Lang
are reported to be more cruel than the Chahar Lang and have frequently been
known to cut off the breasts of women taken prisoners, and even to proceed
to acts of more revolting and gross barbarity. Wars between Bakhtians have
always been wars of extermination, quarter being seldom received or offered.
He, himself, was a peaceable and trustworthy chief.
The anarchy that followed the fall of Muhammad Taki Khan M to
Present history and the rise of Husain Kuli Khan^ the son of Jafer
administration. Kuli Khan, who began to make his power felt about
1848 during the reign of the present Shah. His chief opponents, the sons