'A précis of the Relations of the British Government with the Tribes and Shaikhs of Arabistan. By Lt A T Wilson, Acting Consul for Arabistan' [‎18] (32/134)

18
CHAPTER IV.
1897-1910.
Shaikh Khaz'al's Rule.
The assassination of Miz'al took place on June 2nd, 1897, when he was
disembarking from his boat at Failiyeh ; his nephew 'Abdul Jaiil was shot
simultaneously. The actual assassins wore three negroes, but a large force of
negroes and Arabs under Salman bin Mansur, the Shaikh's cousin, was at
hand to give support if necessary. The act was countenanced, if it was not
instigated, by Khaz'al, the youngest son of Haji Jabir, Miz'al's brother. Haji
Muhammad 'Ali Rais-ut-Tujjar is generally supposed to have been likewise
privy to the deed. Miz'al had been popular in the earlier stages of his career
but his stinginess and avarice combined to make him more and more unpopu
lar, and his death was welcomed by all classes. He left no issue.
Shaikh Khaz'al at once assumed the direction of affairs; no disturbances
occurred, though the local population carried arms for several days after
wards mindful of the disturbances that had followed Haji Jabir's death in
1881.
The strong policy of the Shaikhs of the Muhaisin, which Haji Jabir had
initiated, was in no way weakened by the change of head in respect of the
adjoining districts. It was rather intensified, and before long a tendency
became apparent to an expansion of the Shaikh's influence beyond its tradi
tional limits- 1 The subjugation of the Ka'ab tribe, which had been one of the
main objects of Miz'al's rule, was finally effected before long, and from the
first the Shaikh exercised effective control in Mohammerah, and the nomina
tion of the Governor at Fallahiyeh was practically in his hands. The Persian
Government were in no hurry to recognize Khaz'al as Miz'al's successor and
did not continue to him the title of Mu'izz-es-Saltanah, 2 which his brother had
enjoyed, until April 1898. The Shaikh soon found the traditional hostility
of the Governor of 'Arabistan to the Shaikh of Mohammerah was in no way
diminished. He was not a little apprehensive at this time that the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Akram, Governor of 'Arabistan, might put up his nephew 'Abud as a rival.
'Abud himself was unlikely to make such a claim of his own accord, but he
might be used by the Persians for their own purpose, as had been done in
Shaikh Miz'al's time, when Muhammad, his brother, was appointed as Gover
nor vice Miz'al until the latter paid heavily for the cancellation of the orders.
The Ka'ab were ready, as always, to support any pretender who had a chance
of success and under whose leadership they might break the power of the house
of Bu Kasib.
The Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Akram intended to force 'Abdullah on the Ka'ab as the
Governor of Fallahiyeh, against their will and contrary to Shaikh Khaz'al's
advice. The latter had already paid 15,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. pishkash to the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Akram as a condition of the latter's assistance in obtaining a farman for him
as Miz'al's successor. In the meanwhile the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Akram wired to Tehran
that he had interviewed the Arabs at Nasiri (where 'Abud was) and that if
the Shaikh did not comply with his demands (in regard to the Governorship
of Fallahiyeh) he could do to the Shaikh what his (the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. 's) father had
done to Shaikh Nasir in Bushire in 1845, i.e., deport him and replace him by
a Persian Governor.
The Shaikh on his part wired to the Nizam-es-Saltaneh whose nominee
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Akram was, protesting against thel latter's intrigues: the Nizam
wired to the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. to cease interference in the Arab districts and devote his
energies to the pacification of Shushtar and Dizful which towns were then
1 The " traditional limitg " are expresged in the Arab saying that " when the Bawi Arabs were strong
Haji Jabir stopped at Sal man ah : when the Ka'ab were strong he was afraid to go to Manikh "—an allusion to
the battle at the latter place, in which the Muhaisin were defeated.
2 In August 1902 he was created Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Arfa* and the title of Nusrat-ul-Mulk conferred on Chasib
his eldest son. The titles of Amir Toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and Amin Nujan wore conferred on him successively in 1908.