'Report on Fars by Captain A T Wilson, Indian Political Department' [‎20r] (44/396)

31
The Saulat was lemstated as Ill'll dm, but solely as a tribal chief
and without any invitation to take part in the administiation of
the province.
The Daria Begi, late Governor of the Gulf Ports, accompanied
Mukhbir-us-Saltaneh as Commander of his Military Forces.
61. On account of the attack on Mr. Smart’s escort, the headquar
ters of the 79th Carnatic; Infantry, then about to return to India
from Makran and consisting of 200 men under Lieutenant-Colonel
Andrews, were landed at Bushire in the last days of December.
They were relieved in the following November by a wing of the 2nd
Queen Victoria’s Own Ra jput Light Infantry under Major Dunsford.
During the year various measures were discussed by His
Majesty’s Government for the despatch of a punitive force to Pars
lo exact reparation for the numerous outrages of the preceding year
and to secure the security of the Southern routes.
On October 5th the squadron at Isfahan was withdrawn to
Shiraz, where it arrived without incident cn 22nd October.
On the 11 th December a party of 26 sowars of the Central
India Horse With 17 followers and 17 baggage mules under Major
Kettlewell, accompanied by Captain Eckfoid, had proceeded for some
days’ shooting to the Dashtarjan Lake, 40 miles from Shiraz. The
party left with the consent of ihe Governor-General, who considered
the district safe, as it was supposed to be under the protection of
the Swedish Gendarmerie. The party u r as, however, ambushed
between Khan-i-Zinian and Dashtarjan by a large body of tribes
men, estimated at between 200 and 300 men. Early in the ambus
cade Captain Eckford w r as shot through the heart.
Unlike previous attacks on British officers during the year,
robbery seems to have been the sole motive and the ambuscade
formed part of operations against a large caravan, which had left
Khan-r-Zinian in front of the party. The robbers, of whom two v'ere
killed and three w T ounded, appeared to have been composed of a mixed
band of Boir Ahmadis, Mamassanis and Kashkulis, the raid being
undertaken with the cognizance of Muhammad 'All Khan KashkuK.
The party returned to Shiraz without further molestation, but
of a party of Gendarmes in the neighbourhood four were wounded.
62. As previously narrated, the Persian Government had intimated
their intention in 1911 of forming a Gendarmerie under Swedish
officers for tne protection of the trade routes.