"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد II" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٢] (٧٠٦/٣٦٩)

352
KIRMANSHAH
of a Kurdish force, which recouped itself by plundering the town;
while Salar-ud-Dauleh revenged himself by cutting off the Governor’s
legs and burning him alive. In the disturbances created one of the sowars
of the British Consular escort was wounded. The Persian Government
offered a pension to Salar, if he would leave Persia, and the two Powers
tried to induce him to accept this, but he demanded nothing short of the
Principality of Western Persia.
At this time, and again in September 1912, the Turkish Government
threatened to send a large consular escort to Kirmanshah, and to protect their
caravans on the road, protesting that the Russians and British were doing
the same in the north and south. It was only when diplomatic pressure
was brought to bear on them by these two powers that they desisted,
In April 1912 Salar-ud-Dauleh organized a force of Kalhurs, Sinjabij
and other Kurdish tribes, and advanced towards Tehran. Farman Farma
who had been appointed Governor-General, after much delay, started
from Tehran on April 15th. Salar got to beyond Hamadan and his lieute
nant, Mujall-us-Sultaneh, took Zinjan, but his success was then arrested
by Yprim, who defeated him severely at Hamadan, being, however, him
self killed in the fight.
On June 1st Government troops occupied Kirmanshah, and it was thought
that the last had been heard of Salar-ud-Dauleh’s pretention, especially
as Daud Khan, Kalhur, his most powerful supporter, had been killed.
But he was apparently not easily disheartened, for throughout the next six(?)
months he and Farman Farma took it in turns to occupy (and of course
loot) Kirmanshah ; and on one occasion these two even exchanged posses
sion of Kirmanshah and Sinneh within a Kw days, without encountering
each other.
The Government troops (Fideas) under Farman Farma were discontent
ed owing to non-receipt of pay, and some of them, led by Yar Muhammad
Khan, who had in 1911 led an expedition against the prince, now rebelled
and joined him. Yar Muhammad, however, was killed in September 1912,
yet the next news of Salar-ud-Dauleh was that he was outside the walls of
Tehran, and the Government were afraid of the capital siding with him.
In 1913, the Turks succeeded in establishing a Consular guard of 15 men.
General description .—Kirmanshah is the capital of the province of Kirman
shah, and is part of a buluk of the same name. It stands on rolling ground
connected with the hills of Fath ’All Khan, Chiahsurkh and Kamarzad,
which form part of the limits of the Kirmanshah plain. Chiahsurkh, which
is covered with small huts, inhabited by the lower Kurdish population, marks
the end of the town towards the south, and the beginning of those fine gar
dens which give the town such a picturesque aspect, when reached from the
Baghdad highway. There is also a hill in the town known as “ Tappeh
Alaf Khaneh ” or “ Sar Tappeh. ”
The town, approached from the Hamadan road, presents a mean appear
ance and is quite denuded of any relieving feature. A few tin-covered
minarets, the Naqqareh Khaneh and the whitewashed walls enclosing the
Governor’s palace, are the only signs which point to a town instead of a large
Village ' . . , .
The plain, on which the city stands, extends 6 miles in breadth from
north to south and 30 miles from east to west; it is studded with small