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‘A RECONNAISSANCE IN SOUTH-WEST PERSIA’ [12r] (28/90)
The record is made up of 1 volume (42 folios). It was created in 1891. 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. .
Transcription
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Shah., believed by these mountaineers to have been at the instigation of the
Russian Ambassador at Teheran, sent word
Cause o£ tbe animosity of the ag j c w ]-, e ^ ier I would receive him that even-
Bakhtians to Russians. . , , . , . „ . .
ing, as he was leaving next morning tor his
summer quarters in the hills.
I sent word back to say that I should be very pleased to see him, however
late he liked to come.
He came at once on receiving my answer.
He expressed himself delighted to see us return to the Bakhtiari country,
and hoped that our stay among them would be of
Cordiality of the Bakhtiari gome length this time.
He promised to give us two sowars and letters to petty chiefs through
whose villages we were likely to pass.
As he was going away, he told Imam Sharif he had decided to put off
his journey to his summer quarters during our stay in Shuster, and, if there
was anything we wanted, he was to be sure and let him know, as it was
Isfendia Khan’s wish that, whenever we visited this country, we were to be
shown all hospitality possible by them.
The same evening I sent to the acting Governor, Mahdi Khan, who is
quite a boy, asking 1 whether he would give me an
Belay of acting Governor interview the next day, but he sent word back to
interview. say that he could not do so until the day alter.
(To give himself time, I suppose, to find out the reason of my return to
Shuster.)
On the 29th of April I returned Amir Kuli Khan’s call.
His reception was most cordial, everything being done to show his
friendship for us.
After smoking the Kalian, or pipe of peace, during which time he intro
duced several junior members of his party, I brought him to book about the
two sowars he had promised the night before to give me.
He now asked whether I should consider one enough, as it would be more
convenient for him.
I was not surprised at this, as I had heard that the Russian had been
there early that morning with an order from the
Russian Agent (?) at work.
acting Governor for Amir Kuli Khan to go to
the fort.
Seeing something was evidently on his mind, we pressed him to tell us,
which he did, saying how he had been sent for that morning to the fort, and
had been asked what right he had to give us guides without consulting the
acting Governor first.
He told them that as I had letters from Teheran, which he had seen,
ordering all Governors to assist me, he had only fulfilled the command of his
Imperial master.
After making this reply, he told us he had been allowed to come away.
As he evidently had been a good deal worried, I told him I should be
satisfied with one
sowar
In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman.
, but that should any accident happen, he would be
held responsible.
I could clearly see that considerable pressure had been brought to bear on
him, which I attributed to the presence of the Russian living in the fort as a
Persian bandmaster, and who, Amir Kuli Khan «aid, had told the acting Gov
ernor that, if he allowed me to proceed, he would probably get himself into
disgrace at Teheran.
About this item
- Content
Narrative report on surveys conducted in south-west Persia [Iran]. The structure of the report is in two parts. The first part concerns British relations with Arabs, Persians and the Bakhtiaris [Bakhtiyārīs] during the reconnaissance of south-west Persia. The second part contains reports of routes leading into Bakhtiari country from the south-west. In addition, there is an appendix containing an account of a journey across the Bakhtiari mountains during 1890-91, which is written by Major Bruce, 19th Bengal Lancers.
The report is by William Daniel McSwiney. The survey work was carried out by Assistant Surveyor Imam Sharif, Khan Bahadur [Imām Sharīf, Khān Bahādur].
The report contains the following illustrations:
- ‘Reconnaissance Sketch of The Dizful [Dezful] Bridge.’ (f 10)
- ‘Reconnaissance Sketch of The Khushi Khana on the right bank of the Ab-i-Diz [Rudkhaneh-ye Dez], which commands the town of Dizful.’ (f 14)
- ‘Distant View of the Snow Covered Bakhtiari Mountains looking East from Dizful, November 1890.’ (f 16)
- ‘View of the River Ab-i-Diz as it flows into the “Gorge’’ on the north side of the Kilah Shahid.’ (f 18)
- ‘View of the Country Over the Plan of Dumakail looking east from the highest point on Kilah Shahid.’ (f 20)
- ‘One of the Broken Bridges Over the Ab-i-Diz at Pul-i-Kul.’ (f 24)
- ‘The Fort of Sar-i-Dasht [Sar Dasht, Khuzestan, Iran].’ (f 26)
- ‘Broken Bridge East End of the Tungi Baba Ahmad [Baba Tungi, Afghanistan].’ (f 29)
- ‘View of the Valley of Mal-i-Mir, December 1890.’ (f 36)
- ‘Bakhtiari Hut Built into the Side of the Hill at Chardeh, in which Major Bruce and Lieutenant W. D. McSwiney were snowed up in December 1890.’ (f 38)
- ‘Doorway of Above Hut.’ (f 38).
The report also contains the following:
- ‘Reconnaissance Survey of S.-E. Bakhtiari Country, May 1891, Surveyed by Assistant Surveyor Imam Sharif, K.B., Survey of India Department, superintended and assisted by Lieut. W. D. McSwiney, 7th Dragoon Guards.’ (f 2)
- ‘Reconnaissance Survey of S.-E. Bakhtiari Country, May 1891, Surveyed by Assistant Surveyor Imam Sharif, K.B., Survey of India Department, superintended and assisted by Lieut. W.D. McSwiney, 7th Dragoon Guards.’ (f 3)
- ‘Reconnaissance Survey of S.-E. Bakhtiari Country, May 1891, Surveyed by Sub-Surveyor Imam Sharif, K.B., Survey of India Department, superintended and assisted by Lieut. W.D. McSwiney 7th Dragoon Guards.’ (f 4).
- ‘Plan of Dizful’ (f 42).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (42 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 43; 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: printed pagination sequences are also present in parallel between folios 11-35 and folios 37-40.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘A RECONNAISSANCE IN SOUTH-WEST PERSIA’ [12r] (28/90), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/397, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100125515278.0x00001d> [accessed 6 August 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/397
- Title
- ‘A RECONNAISSANCE IN SOUTH-WEST PERSIA’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head , tail, front-i, 5r:9v, 11r:13v, 15r:15v, 17r:17v, 19r:19v, 21r:23v, 25r:25v, 27r:28v, 30r:35v, 37r:37v, 39r:41v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence