Coll 28/44 ‘Persia. Internal. Fars affairs & Shiraz situation’ [‎11v] (22/843)

6
tov Cl Clc-o
y
rn $ see
houses, live stock and crops to lose if they become enemies either of the Government
or of the surrounding tribes. They possess a certain quantity of arms and declare
their readiness to defend their rights against all comers. Their natural policy
is obviously to ally themselves with whichever party oft'ers them better protection.
Until the rise to power of the Qashgai, this policy has led them to side with the
Government, but since the decay of the latter’s power, the tendency has been for
the Mamassani to reach agreement firstly with the Bqir Ahmedi (whom th
fear most), and secondly with the Qashgai. The tribe is divided into four sectio
each governed by a Kalentar, of whom the most powerful is Husain Quli, who
was exiled with Nasir Qashgai and Abdullah of the Boir Amhedi. An important
element in the Mamassani politics is the land claims. A certain Bushire merchant
obtained rights over their lands some fifty years ago, and is now claiming owner
ship of nearly the whole. His claims have, in the past, been supported by the
Persian Government, and the present Government appears to be following the
?ob rrufcj same path. In consequence, the Mamassani have additional cause to be estranged
C^Ql
y^pa-rk
vLle-; /xr >b'i7 from the Government.
'hh
Khamseh. (Rough population 85,000.)
This tribe of mixed Turkish and Arab origins is now partly nomadic and
partly sedentarised. It is split up into a number of .sections and has now no
prominent local leader. Its traditional head, Qawam ul Mulk, has for many
years lived in Tehran, and his present authority over the tribe is open to argument.
Thus, although the tribe has some arms, it is of little political importance save
that the Basiri section flirt with the Qashgai.
Boir Ahmedi. (Rough population 30,000.)
Economically it is the most distressed tribe of Ears, partly due to its
own fecklessness, and partly owing to the exactions of Government officials. By
other tribes it is held up as an example of the evils of submission to Government.
The territory of this tribe is not situated in modern Ears, but on account of
its alliance with the Qashgai it plays a prominent part in Ears politics. Although
of purely Persian origin, it is the most feared tribe of South Persia. Raiders
from this tribe range far into settled territory in pursuit of loot, and are good
fighters, possessing a considerable stock of modern arms. They have never been
properly subdued by the Persian Government, and British contacts with them
have, unfortunately, been very limited.
The Boir Ahmedi are mainly nomadic, though the range of migration is short
as their country comprises both the warm foothills and a portion of the rugged
plateau itself. In its winter quarters the tribe is very close to the oil-fields at
Gach Seran. . „ , A1 n
Traditionally, the tribe is divided into warring factions, but Abdullah Khan
Zarghampur, since his return from exile in Tehran, has been able to extend his
authority over most of the tribe. This fact, together with the agreement with
Nasir Khan Qashgai to unite to resist disarmament, makes these two tribes the
most important political factor in South Persia.
N.5.—The population figures given are the best obtainable, but they are only
a guess, as no statistics are available.