Correspondence and Papers on Persia [‎208v] (164/245)

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TEHERAN—NOTABLES.
21. DABIR-EL-MAMALIK, MIRZA ISMAIL KHAN—
Son of Hakim el Mamalik, Vali, who is now consul-general at
Baghdad. Entered Foreign Office in 1897, and was immediately
after appointed secretary to Legation in Berlin, where he is now.
Age 25 ; speaks French.
22. DABIR EL MULK, MIRZA NASH ULLAH KHAN—
Son of Hajji Muhammad Husain Khan, who was the son of Badr
Khan, Jabbadar Bashi of Ears, and died in 185G as Jabbadar Bashi
of Teheran. Dabir el Mulk was born in 1836, and succeeded his
father as Jabbadar Bashi in 1856. In 1862 he entered the Foreign
Office, and became first secretary in 1868. In 1884 he received
his present title and entered the Home Office. In 1890 he Avas
secretary to the Grand Vizirate, and in 1891 he became ^ azir-i-
Rasayil-i-Khaseh, which post he now holds.
His son, Mirza Muhammad Husain Khan, is in the Home Office
assisting his father.
Age 61. Is a member of the council.
23. GHAFFARI FAMILY—
The Ghaffaris, nomads of Central Arabia, were converted to Islam
during the prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, and one of their chiefs,
Abu Zarr, who was converted in 617 and died in 653, is said to
have been the fifth of the Aiab nomad chiefs who joined Muham
mad. During* the Arab conquest of Persia in the seventh century
some Ghaffaris came to Persia and settled in Kashan and Kom,
where most of their descendants still are. They say that they
descend from the above-mentioned Abu Zarr, but this statement is
open to doubt. At the end of the eighteenth century, the chief of
the family was Mirza Muizz ed Din, son of Kazi Ahmad; he had
three sons, of whom the eldest was Mirza Ahmad Khan. Mirza
Ahmad Khan had ten sons, of whom the eldest was Mirza Muham
mad Mehdi Khan, who was the father of Amin ed Dowleh, Ferrukh
Khan, and of Amin-i-Khclvet, Mirza Hashim Khan. Muaven cd
Hoideh (q.v.) and A-judan-i-Makhsus (q.v.) are sons of the former,
and Aniin-i-Khdvet (q.v.) and Ikbal ed Dowleh (q.v.) are sons of the
latter. Muhandis el Mamalik (q.v.) and Mirza Zain-el-Ahadin Khan,
who was some time chief of the Tribunal and Foreign Office agent
at Meshed, and is at present in the Foreign Office, are sons of
Mirza Muhammad Ibrahim, the fourth son of Mirza Ahmad Khan.
Habbib Ullah Khan, who was educated in France, and was for
some time attached to Amin es Sultan when Sadr Azam, is a son
of Mirza Zaman Khan, the eighth son of Mirza Ahmad Khan. He
is about 54 years of age.