3-028-804 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Threateners of Teheran: a Bakhtiari village, 1909. '...men who may capture the Shah; supporters of the Bakhtiari who seeks to become ruler of Persia. Taking advantage of the general situation in Persia, the Bakhtiari, a mountain race from the south-west of Persia, have made their long-expected movement, and a few days ago were at the gates of Teheran. According to Mr. Perceval Landon (writing in the "Telegraph") "it needed but the simplest recognition of Asiatic methods and moods to realise that for whatever purpose the Bakhtiaris were marching upon the capital of Persia, it was assuredly not with the aim of spreading the principles of the ballot-box among the Shiite sons of Islam. The blunt truth is that the Ilkhani (or Chieftain of the Bakhtiaris) believes himself to be now strong enough to grasp the throne of Persia, and that he does not intend to miss so golden an opportunity as that which is now presented....Persia being in the existing state of chaos, the capture of Teheran means the capture also of the Shah".' From "Illustrated London News", 1909.