'File 1584/1913: Mohammerah-Khoremabad Railway' [‎64r] (132/354)

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October 14. News was received that the gendarmes had executed fourteen of
the persons captured in Burujird, including one or two undoubtedly innocent persons.
A pap( i signed by the local authorities in Burujird and countersigned bv me
relating to one of them, unfortunately arrived too late.
Another man, a Burujird tradesman, was about to be executed, when a similar
aper, also countersigned by me, reached Sultanabad ; he was at once released.
If the Swedish officers think they are going to improve matters in Luristan or
elsewhere by raiding a town, scraping together a few odd Lurs, who are no more
guilty than their fellows of any particular offence, and in some cases are plainly
innocent, and executing them, they are much mistaken. Certainly my own position
in Luristan and that of the british generally has been for the time being prejudiced,
as it is everywhere known that the gendarmes are our own creation and are supported
by us.
1 he news had an unfortunate effect on the morning meeting of the Bala Garimeh
chiefs, and we made no progress in coming to an agreement with them.
In the evening I met a deputation of Bala Garimeh chiefs. They announced that
they were prepared, in so far as our affairs were concerned, to sink their tribal feuds and
to give hostages in Dizful for their good behaviour. As regards the railway if Sheikh *
Khazal supported railway construction they would do likewise, if not, they would
oppose it. W hatever terms Khazal agreed to they would also agree to (rhetorically
only I think) ; they wanted a letter or telegram from him reassuring them, which they
could show to Their dependents, to convince the latter that their chiefs were not acting
inadvisedly.
I promised them to obtain them a letttii* from “ Khazal ” (as Lurs, like Arabs,
familiarly call him).
As I have remarked in a previous diary, wherever I go in South Persia I find
Sheikh Khazal s name invoked as the standard example of a tribal chief who has
assisted British enterprise and reaped his reward. Some are jealous of his power and
many envy his position, but all recognise that his position to-day, compared with his
position twenty years ago, when he succeeded to the sheikhship, is sufficient justification
for a policy of active encouragement to British enterprise.
I he Bala Garimeh chiefs did not commit themselves as to giving hostages at
Khoremabad, on which I insisted.
As regards their salaries and subsidies, they asked for 30,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year, or
proportionately per mensem. This works out at something like 500b a month for them
alone, which is a good deal more than I am prepared to recommend the syndicate to
pay. Doubtless we can effect a reduction in their demands later on.
News was received that 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. Khan, a local ruffian whom I proposed to take to
Dizful to be a Persian Bail way Syndicate headguard, in order to keep him out of
mischief and to placate his fellows, had been imprisoned in Burujird by Haji Fakhr-
ud-Dun Iftikhar-ul-Islam. Doubtless I shall be asked to take steps for his release.
Negotiations with the Bala Garimeh continued during the morning, and by noon they
had agreed to a monthly subsidy of 800 to 1,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , to be shared by the Bairanwand
and Mirs. Judeki to be dealt with separately. Influential chiefs to receive separate
subsidies ; subsidy to be payable so long as the syndicate were in their territories.
October 16.—A detailed report by Said-ul-Nizam, who was with the Bairanwand
when they were attacked by the gendarmes, stated that the following articles were
captured from the latter and that four gendarmes were killed :—
Three hundred tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in notes, eleven rifles (five magazine), seven Mauser rifles,
one load cartridges, one load bedding, one load officers’ tents, one medical stores, one
load Maxim gun fittings, one horse, four mules, and seven saddles off dead horses. I
I have already seen one gendarmerie rifle in Bairanwand hands. The report stated j
that it was generally believed that 1 had instigated the gendarmes to attack the
Bairanwand, as my arrival at Burujird coincided with the event. A later message,
dated 13th October, stated that the Bairanwand were meditating entering into
negotiations with the notables of Khoremabad and with the Birakwand for the
surrender of Captain Wilson, Mr. Douglas, and Mirza Ali Akbar, to be held as hostages
against the balance of prisoners in the hands of the gendarmerie.
It was reported that Ali Mardan Khan had offered 10,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to the gendarmerie
for the release of the prisoners, but it had been refused, and the return of all loot taken
from the people of Iraq and the Malik-ut-Tujjar of Ispahan (who was seized and held
to ransom for 15,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. ) demanded. ; •
The condition of Burujird is pitiable : Lurs have gained access by night to parts cF