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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎64r] (132/470)

The record is made up of 1 volume (231 folios). It was created in 1885. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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13
97
and son-in-law of Kalb AH Khan, he contrived to remove from the scene
and obtained almost universal supremacy over the tribes.
He ruled the tribes with a strong hand and his name was respected
and feared throughout the hills. He completed the good work commenced by
Muhammad Tab sternly repressed brigandage, and rendered the passage
of caravans possible through his hills, a clemency much regretted by his
subjects who would readily have returned to their old predatory habits
{see pages 167, 319). J
His power excited the jealousy of the Persians, and being suspected of
holding ambitious views he was called to Isfahan by the Zil-ul-Sultan and
was there murdered. His eldest son is a captive in Isfahan. It is commonly
supposed that he is kept in prison bound with chains. His younger sons
were, I am told, under charge of the present Ilkham, Imam Kuli Khan? brother
ot the late Husain Kuli Khan. Reza Kuli Khan, another brother, is Ilbe<n
Muhammad Husan Kuli Khan, a third brother, is a Sartip in the Persian army.
Roth the Hicham and Ilbegi have several sons; Hajji Ibrahim Kuli Khan
son of the latter, is Sirhing of the Bakhtiari horse, and has influence with the
tribes {see pages 5, 22).
I nlike the leili Lurs, Kuhgehlu and the Mamasseni they are united
the majority acknowledging the authority of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. . The section living
in the vicinity of Burujird does not owe him allegiance.
The Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. is subject to the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Isfahan, and receives
1,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. per annum as salary; the Ilbegi receives a salary of 500 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
The district of Chahar Mahal is farmed by the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. , who pays an
annual rent for it of 20,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . ^ ^
The present Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. Imam Kuli Khan seems to be beloved by his sub-
Ilkluud Imam-Kuli- jects and to govern them justly. He sits in darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
ia ?’ . daily and is accessible to all. His countenance and
genial manner indicate a man of a kindly disposition ; his manners are simple
yet courteous, and the members of his suite, although rough looking, are not
without a certain polish and refinement of manners [seepages 5, 85,’ 100).
His family are held in respect.
. The chiefs of the great Lur families are, no doubt, from more frequent
intercourse with Persians at the courts of Tehran and Isfahan, assimulatino-
their manners to those of Persians and imitating their modes of life. Tea is
now held in great estimation throughout Luristan, and no chief of'any note
will fail to serve it after the Persian manner, when visited, with imported loaf
sugar and lemons. Many travellers carry a charcoal brazier and brass kettle
suspended from the crupper of the saddle as well as the universal kalyan.
Population and armed Assuming that the Chahar Lang number 12 000
8t^eIlgth • families, the Haft Lang 11,000 families, and the depend
encies 15,000 families, there are in all 38,000 families of Bakhtiaris.
Reckoning each family at 5 members, a moderate estimate, the population
of the Bakhtiari hills number 190,000 souls or eleven per square mile, taking
the area over which they are scattered to be 17,000 square miles (see Estimate
page 39).
Assuming that in every two families one man is capable of bearing arms,
the number of men that can be raised is 19,000.
The Shah can call upon every Iliyat tribe to furnish him with one horse
man and two foot soldiers per ten families, i.e., he can raise amongst the
Bakhtians about 3,800 horse and 7,600 foot soldiers (see Fart III. naqes 136,
137, and ante).

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Content

Report marked strictly confidential, prepared in the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter Master General’s Department in India, by the Assistant Quarter Master General, Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Sever Bell, Royal Engineers. The volume was published by the Government Central Branch Press, Simla, 1885.

The contents of the volume are as follows:

  • part I, a narrative description of a journey from India to Muhammerah [Khorramshahr], through to the Luristán [Lorestān] hills, to Kúm [Qom]; from Kúm to Gulpaigán [Golpāyegān ], Chaman-i-Sultán [Chaman Solţān], Ali-Gúdar [Alīgūdarz], Imámzádá-Ishmail [Emāmzādeh Esmā‘īl], and the Zaindarúd River [Zāyandeh Rūd] to Isfahán; from Isfahán through the Kúhgehlú [Kohgīlūyeh] hills to Behbahán and Bandar-Dilám [Bandar-e Deylam]; from Bandar-Dilám to Bushire
  • part II, a detailed account of southwest Persia, compiled from Sever’s own observations and other available sources
  • part III, commercial considerations. A further section in this chapter on strategic observations, which is mentioned on the contents page and marked as secret, is not present in the volume
  • part IV, detailed road reports
  • appendix A, road reports, Isfahan to Shústar [Shūshtar], Shústar to Shíráz [Shīrāz], compiled in 1881 by Captain Henry Lake Wells, Assistant Director of Persian Telegraphs, with additional annotations by Bell
  • appendix B, a list of plant specimens collected in Luristán during April and May 1884
  • appendix C, extracts of a paper on the geology of the Turko-Persian frontier, written by William Kennett Loftus, June 1854
  • appendix D, meteorological observations at Bushire, from 20 March to 20 June 1885

The volume includes eight maps, two photographic plates, and illustrations throughout (topographical, architectural, anthropological). The two photographic plates and some of the maps are of an earlier date than the volume’s publication date of 1885.

Extent and format
1 volume (231 folios)
Arrangement

A contents page (f 7) and index (ff 222-226) refer to the volume’s original printed pagination.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 233; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎64r] (132/470), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/9, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048990082.0x000085> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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