'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎212v] (429/610)

390
to unceitainty about the attitude of Russian, troops along the
road, and apprehension that they might rally to Dunsterville,,
The Jangalls abandoned their positions at Manjil bridge and
failed to hold the road against BicherakoJ’s column in June
1918. They attacked and were defeated by the British troops
in Rasht in August 1918 and Kuchik Khan then made terms
with us.
The treaty was annulled in March 1919 owing to his insincerity
towards and persistence in opposing the Persian Government
he was unable to withstand the Persian Cossacks and became
a fugitive. He profited by the misbehaviour of the Cossacks
and maladministration of the Governor sent from Tehran to
revive the Jangali movement in the autumn, spent the winter
parleying with the Persian Government until May 1920, when
he was rejoined by his old friends the Bolsheviks, appeared in
his true colours and was escorted by them into Rasht in spite
of the assurances of neutrality he had given a few days pre
viously prior to the withdrawal of the British garrison. In
July however he quarrelled with Khalu Qurban, Ihsanullah
Khan and the Communist section and retired to the Jangal,
where he has since remained sitting on the fence. In Novem
ber a Bolshevik expedition went against him from Rasht, but
without result. His secession from the Bolsheviks is probably
only a temporary phase due to personal antipathies and
jealousies, for instance with 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. Muhi (No. 76) who has been
playing a prominent part among them.
So long as Kuchik Khan was only concerned with local
Gilan affairs the province benefited by his activities, and he
earned a reputation for qualities of leadership and integrity.
Subsequently he seems to have over-reached himself, has
acquired an evil reputation for duplicity and appeared as a
turncoat and self seeking adventurer. His futile opposition
to the Government involved Gilan in the miseries of civil war
in 1919 followed by the catastrophe of the Bolshevik invasion
in 1920.
(Kuchik Khan died in 1921, when a fugitive from the
Persian Cossacks.)
No. 76. 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. MUHI, Abdul Husain Khan. Former title
Mu’izz-us-Sultdn.
Born about 1870. A native of Rasht, son of HajI Qasim,
Vakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. -ul-Ru’aya, brother of a former Beglerbegl of Gilan, nephew
of Sipahdar-i-A’zam (No. 31) and brother of Mujib-us-Sultaneh,
Mirza Karim Khan (No. 74), Amld-us-Sultan (No. 6i), Ahmad
All Khan, Abbas .Khan, etc., a fraternity of adventurers^