"تقرير عسكري عن جنوب غرب بلاد فارس، يتضمن أقاليم خوزستان (عربستان)، لورستان، وجزءًا من فارس" [‎٩‎٧] (٤٦٦/١٣٤)

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and son-in-law of Kalb Ali Khan, he contrived to remove from the scene
and obtained almost universal supremacy over the tribes.
He ruled the tribes with a strong hand and his name was respected
and feared throughout the hills. He completed the good work commenced by
Muhammad Taki, sternly repressed brigandage, and rendered the passage
of caravans possible through his hills, a clemency much regretted by his
subjects who would readily have returned to their old predatory habits
[see pages 167, 319).
His power excited the jealousy of the Persians, and being suspected of
holding ambitious views he was called to Isfahan by the Zil-ul-Sultan and
was there murdered. His eldest son is a captive in Isfahan. It is commonly
supposed that he is kept in prison bound with chains. His younger sons
were, I am told, under charge of the present Ilkhani, Imam Kuli Khan, brother
of the late Husain Kuli Khan. Reza Kuli Khan, another brother, is Ilbegi.
Muhammad Husan Kuli Khan, a third brother, is a Sartip in the Persian army.
Both the llkham and Ilbegi have several sons ,• Hajji Ibrahim Kuli Khan,
son of the latter, is Sirhing of the Bakhtian horse, and has influence with the
tribes [see pages 5, 22),
Unlike the Feili Lurs, Kuhgehlu and the Mamasseni they are united,
the majority acknowledging the authority of the Ilkhani. The section living
in the vicinity of Burujird does not owe him allegiance.
The Ilkhani is subject to the Prince Governor of Isfahan, and receives
1,000 tomans per annum as salary; the Ilbegi receives a salary of 500 tomans.
The district of Chahar Mahal is farmed by the Ilkhani, who pays an
annual rent for it of 20,000 tomans.
The present Ilkhani Imam Kuli Khan seems to be beloved by his sub-
Ilkhani Imam-Kuli- jects and to govern them justly. He sits in darbar
daily and is accessible to all. His countenance and
genial manner indicate a man of a kindly disposition; his manners are simple,
yet courteous, and the members of his suite, although rough looking, are not
without a certain polish and refinement of manners [see pages 5, 85> 100).
His family are held in respect e
The chiefs of the great Lur families are, no doubt, from more frequent
intercourse with Persians at the courts of Tehran and Isfahan, assimulating
their manners to those of Persians and imitating their modes of life. Tea is
now held in great estimation throughout Luristan, and no chief of any note
will fail to serve it after the Persian manner, when visited, with imported loaf
sugar and lemons. Many travellers carry a charcoal brazier and brass kettle
suspended from the crupper of the saddle as well as the universal kalyan.
Population and armed Assuming that the Chahar Lang number 12 ,000
strength. families, the Haft Lang 11,000 families, and the depend
encies 15,000 families, there are in all 38,000 families of Bakhtians.
Beckoning each family at 5 members, a moderate estimate., the population
of the Bakhtian hills number 190,000 souls or eleven per square mile, taking
the area over which they are scattered to be 17,000 square miles [see Estimate,
page 89).
Assuming that in every two families one man is capable of bearing arms,
the number of men that can be raised is 19,000.
The Shah can call upon every Iliyat tribe to furnish him with one horse
man and two foot soldiers per ten families, i.e., he can raise amongst the
Bakhtiaris about 3,800 horse and 7,600 foot soldiers [see Fart III, panes 136,
137, and ante).