'CORRECTIONS TO GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME III' [‎9r] (19/180)

BEH—BEH
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north-east of Bandar Dilam, in an extensive plain watered by the Kurdistan
or Marun river, from the banks of which it lies 3 miles south.
History.
Local tradition traces the name of the town to the settlers who came
there after the destruction of Arijan. These people came and camped
there in Ilmt fashion in black goats-hair tents, called by them “ Bohuns”,
for which they gradually substituted mud houses which they said were
“ Behlar-az-bohun ” (Lur : better than tents). This appellation gradually
by long usage became crystalised, through various stages, into its present
form Behbehan.
Behbehan is a town of extremely ancient and probably of Sassanian
origin, though it is difficult to say definitely to whom it owes its founda
tion. It gained notoriety only after the destruction of Arijan and Kubad,
which latter name, it may be of interest to note, was the name given to the
5th Kureh or district at present represented by the Behbehan district, into
which, in former times, Ears was divided, viz.: —Istakhr, Darabjird, Shahpur.
Ardashir and Kubad. We may say, however, with a due amount of cer
tainty, that it existed prior to the 14th century, from the fact that Sharif-
ud-DIn ’All Yazdi mentions that Taimiir camped at Behbehan when en
route from Tester (Shnshtar) to Kaleh Safid. In more recent times, during
the Governorship of Mirza Kumu (circ. 1870), owing to his refusal to pay
the taxes of Behbehan, the then Governor of Ears sent an expedition against
Behbehan under the command of Mansur Khan, who attacked the town
and put its inhabitants to the sword. Miraz Kumu himself, however,
escaped and took refuge with the Ka’ab Arabs in the vicinity of Eallahieh.
The latter are descendants of the Bani Ka’ab Arabs who migrated from
the Hejaz.
In later years, the Behbehan Governorship has been, off and on, in the
hands of the Bakhtiari Chiefs, the last occasion being during the winter of
1909-10, when Bias Khan, Bakhtiari, Sarum-ul-Mulk, son of Haji Khusru
Khan, 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. -uz-Zafar, and Fath’AlI Khan, Bakhtiari, Salar-i-Muyid, son
of Lutf ’Ali Khan, Amir-i-Mufakham, held the Governorship for a few months,
the former on behalf of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. , and the latter on behalf of the Haji
Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. family of the Bakhtiaris. On the departure of the Bakhtiari Gov
ernors in the spring of 1910, Mirza ’Ali Riza, Bahadur-i-Divan, was appoint
ed Deputy Governor of Behbehiin, which post he held almost continuously
till September 1912, when Amir-i-Mujahid, Bakhtiari was appointed.
Description.
The town is some 34 miles in circumference, and is surrounded
by a mud wall flanked with circular towers and bastions. The
south-east corner is occupied by a castle called Kaleh Naranj. It is
a place of no great strength, but has thick and lofty mud walls surrounded
by a ditch. Its interior is small and confined, and not capable of con
taining a number of troops. It is defended by 5 or 6 rusty cannons
and might successfully resist the attack of undisciplined troops. None
of these defences are mentioned by Gabriel, 1905. There are no preten-
C. 394 G.8.B.