Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎396r] (796/1028)

chiefly of Khamseh Arabs. However he had little control over them and none
at all over numerous small bands of so-called rebels, but really nothing more
than robbers. They came from the west and infested the vicinity of the
heiman-Bandar Abbas caravan route between Baft and Daulatabad. Finding
few caravans to rob some of them turned their attention to the villagers and
carried off anything they could lay their hands on. On May 1st a number of
these robbei s penetrated into the district of Isfandiqeh where they looted some
villages. This was the furthest east that the rebellion spread. To the North
a lew parties of robbers reached the Yezd road in the vicinity of Anar.
If the rebellion was not formidable the counter measures of the Persian
Government were almost as poor.
At x ^ e beginning of July the local authorities were in the depth of despond
ency and beyond the despatch of a few detachments to Baft and Sirian had
done nothing at all. When the news of the capture of Sirjan was received on
he loth it was generally believed that Kerman would also fall into the rebels’
hands. Many Kerman residents had hired lorries ready for flight Some of
the Kerman firms had fked if they could deposit their rugs in the' Consulate,
ihe Chief of the Police told H. M.’s Consul that the townspeople would assured-
Y,.W" S However at this point the Officer Commanding Troops, Sartip
Xil .,/V 1 Ivlian ; Pahimi, was suddenly galvanized into action. He mustered all
a * vai * a j f me cv nl Herma", about 150 rifles, commandeered some 10 lorries and
started for Sirjan. The rebels who before capture of the town had the svm-
path\ of the people threw away their chance by looting. With the townspeople
against them they could not stand, against the troops. After a few hours desul-
ory fighting they broke and disappeared as a fighting force. This proved the
end of rebellion as far as Kerman was concerned but the news of Government
reverses that leaked through from Shiraz and Isfahan gave rise to a subdued
ee mg of pleasurable anticipation of a change of Government and dvnastv. At
the beginning of August there were signs that the feeling was coming to the
wereli'ntl t Y 1 T™ ° f ^ rebellion ’ s collapse, which at first the people
incfiffm-ence” 0 dlt ’ Kerman 80011 sauk back illto its accustomed lethargy and
rnlnirm Septombe J t be Sir 5 an garrison, about 800 rifles and 2 guns, sent a strong
fin rw Ut + f1 nd e in f\ 0 P? ratlon Wlth a fol 'ce from Shiraz carried out opera-
I l.r'i'- 1 ]' n 10 Hibes. On the 26th September an engagement took
^ d» t f K a hm m! ,ad J here a foree of 400 rebels llnder Fatullah Khan Naitalkhi
T»L„i e f e<J a Tle Government troops continued their advance towards
tiw tdtb nn d T up f P he 10l,se of Sheikh Abul Hassan who became a fugi-
nve witu one or two followers.
J p’ 10 close of tbe yar the Government forces were in occupation of most
Movemfrn f U C °' m c^ but bad n0t aacceeded in restoring complete order.
0 J— bet "’ een Swian and Lar is only possible under strong escort. More
over fighting was still taking place in the south near Gerash.
It is geneially believed that the Arab tribes and their confederates are ready
ehortagTof rZnHion." G ° Vemme,lt “ tho 8 P™g but are deterred by a
rohrmi ( <imn >i*sion of Enquiry .—The event of the year, transcending even the
i i° n in im P or tance has been the visit of the Enquiry Committee. Kerman
t C0 ? Sld 1 ered as a back water - The people are poor the country
Cpmrii n . 1686 d ? sadvan 1 ta ^ es have been accentuated by the neglect of the
succession° V f r S m vm : 0ld day ® tbe P^vince was regularly fleeced by a
even K fL f Bakh . tl f n Gavernors - Tbls has left its tradition which persists
lullerl mi ( fo eseri t uay. Persian officials have not been slow to live up to it
out of ^J SeaSe of se oanty by the feeling that Kerman was out of sight and
tion Wl i C ’ however they went too far. Bribery and every form of corrup-
sKn t A beC0 ? e I ani i )ant and blatant - Tbe Governor-General was wise to re-
a?a bnmhfu ii J S Se P tainba r.the appearance of the Enquiry Committee came
for trial TT e u‘ 3°^ S1X officials were placed under arrest and sent to Tehran
Question' ^offiffiodly a change of conduct, if not of code, has resulted. The
hecanse thpu WlU be P er P aneilt - Bribery has decreased not so much
courao-ed in ta A er . s are afrai fl as because the bribe givers have been en-
geu to tighten their purse strings.