ملف ٣٥١٦\١٩١٤ الجزء ١٨ "الحرب الألمانية: بلاد فارس؛ الوضع العام - ١٩١٦" [ظ‎‎١‎٣‎١] (٣٦٨/٢٧٣)

10
At Kamarij another body of tribesmen rode out to meet the prisoners and
escorted them into the strong Gendarmerie fortress in intense silence and with
great digmty. Here they were handed over to Sultan Ahmed Khan, Captain
of the Borasjun Gendarmerie post who came up to meet them and who treated
them with kindness and respect. He was always ready to converse with any .
member of the party and his serious and sincere manner commanded
their respect and confidence. Both at Kamarij and Konartakhteh he
arranged comfortable quarters.
A.t the latter place he allowed other Gendarme officers and Ghulam
Hussain Qashkuli, a Qashkai Chief know r n to the British Consulate, to come
and see Major O’Connor and talk the matter over. The Qashkuli talked of
the possibility of the Soulet-ud-Douleh conferring with the other Heads at
Borasjun, which happy idea, how ever, was not carried out. There w r as no
incident at Baliki and the prisoners began to realize how utterly they wore
in the grip of the enemy as they approached Borasjun. The big caravanserai
was a veritable fortress, bristling with armed men at every point.
The party arrived on the 9th Moharram and passed in silence through
crowds of sowars, being placed in a ‘‘ Balakhaneh ” with a very strong guard.
They were told that Mr. Wassmuss was there too.
Soon after the arrival the Moharram ceremonies were started and the
party was warned not to show itself to any Persians below. Here a conference
was held and Sultan Ahmed Khan explained the danger of keeping the men
in Borasjun as at first suggested on account of the determination of Ghazan-
far-us-Sultaneh who w'as in the neighbourhood to get possession of Mr.
Ferguson’s person in revenge for the confiscation of his Bank deposit by the
British Government It was here stated that no prisoner would be accepted
in exchange for the Bank Manager, that he w^ould be held till 40,000 Tumans
were paid against him. There were one or two Persians in Borasjun who
spoke English and act as interpreters.
The next morning the 10th Moharram the populace w r orked itself into
such a state of frenzy that it rushed the caravanserai courtyard and swarmed
upstairs to attack the prisoners w r ilh shouts of rage, before they were driven
j dow n by the Gendarmerie guard In the meantime Mr. Wassmuss had w r alked
several times through the prisoners’ courtyard, dressed as a tribesman. The
Consul thought it advisable under the circumstances to see him and so asked
for an interview which was granted. Mr Wassmuss expressed his regrets for
Major O’Connor’s present state and said that the individual must suffer for his
Government.
The little band of ten Indian sowars were here told that they must
remain in Borasjun though they begged to be allowed to accompany their
Consul. The senior Duffedar wns granted leave to go with him to Shoak,
ivhere it was decided to send him back to the others.
When the little party left in the afternoon for Shoak, going east and off
the Ahmedi road, Mr. Wassmuss accompanied it and conversed a little with the
ladies with whom he had been w ell acquainted. Arrived at Shoak, a Tangis-
tani, village of straw covered huts, there were two large tents ready and after
a meal another conference including Mr. Wassmuss, Sultan Ahmed Khan and
Shaikh Hussain’s son was held. At this meeting Sultan Ahmed Khan strong
ly combated the demand of the others that 2 ladies should be held as hostages
for Mrs. Eisenhut and carried his point. Otherwise the demands were the
same as before, viz .:— 1 2 3
(1) The recall of all Germans deported by the British and the giving
back of all prisoners of war.
(2) The return of all confiscated monies.
(3) The withdrawal of all troops from Bushire.
This latter demand being made for the first time at Shoak.
The prisoners w r ere formally handed over to the Tangistani Chiefs. Shaikh
Izzl Khan being head, and on the morning of the i8th the parties were