‘A RECONNAISSANCE IN SOUTH-WEST PERSIA’ [‎12v] (29/90)

4
Before terminating my interview with the Bakhtiari Chief, I made him
show me the man he was going to send with me, and give me the letters to
the petty chiefs through whose districts we were likely to pass.
On "the 30th of April there was some more fighting in the town, as a
serbag or soldier stabbed a Shusteri in the bazar,
Fighting in the streets of aD( j p e } ia( j j-^qq immediately attacked by the in-
Shuster - habitants.
As soon as the news reached the fort, the soldiers came pouring into the
town without any formation. Firing all over the town now became general;
for a few minutes the inhabitants seemed to be getting decidedly the worst
of it, and retired to their houses until word was passed to the four mahals or
quarters to assemble in force in the bazar square.
In about half an hour the Shusteris could be seen coming from all direc
tions in considerable numbers to the square, armed principally with long
sticks heavily loaded at one end, with which they are very handy. A few
were armed with Martini rifles of American make.
The soldiers made a short stand, but as they had evidently no one to
„ . J , lead them, they broke on finding that their
eisian loops ea en. retreat to the fort was likely to be cut off, and ran
as hard as they could, throwing their arms away.
In my letter to the Assistant Quarter Master General, Intelligence
Branch, of the 1st of May 1891, I gave the loss of Shusteris 4 killed, 13
wounded; Persian troops 4 severely wounded ; but from information obtained
later, I estimate the loss on either side to have been considerably greater,
several of the soldiers being killed.
During the fighting several of the leading inhabitants came to assure us
that, as long as they were masters of the town.
Friendly attitude of inimbi- we would be ia perfect safety.
tcHIIyS.
The same afternoon, when riding to the fort to see the acting Governor,
the people salaamed us, whereas several times last November we were stoned.
My interview with the acting Governor was
Interview with acting Gov- unsatisfactory, as the Russian was present the*
ernor spoiled by presence of . - 5 r ^
Russian. whole time.
A great effort was made to prevent my going to Dizful.
In the evening I received the attached letter [rndg page 6) from the
_ _ „ . . , Russian asking for sponges, &c., with which to
Letter from Russian Agent (?). , ,, i ci •
& v y dress the wounds or bis men.
I sent him what I had.
Early in the morning of the 1st of May Amir Kali Khan came to say
farewell and to tell me that he had been detained the whole of t he previous-
day in the fort during the fighting until after my visit, when he had been
suddenly told he might go.
On the 2nd of May we crossed the Karun and proceeded to DizfuL
On arrival there on the 3rd of May I went straight to the house of the
head Saiad who had entertained Major Bruce and myself last year.
He seemed surprised, hut I reminded him of a promise he gave to he
of service to us at any time, and added that I now came to take him at
his word, especially as 1 knew him to be the most influential and powerful
man in Dizful.
This idea of his importance seemed to please him, and he immediately
called for a Kaliun pipe, at the same time givingorders for a room to he got
ready for us, and gave instructions to supply us with whatever we required.