Page 603 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITfCAL AGENCY FOR 188S-90. 9

His Excellency the Saad-ul-Mulk has continued to hold the government of
the Persian Gulf Ports and Islands, including Jask.
Chevalier Keun do Hoogerwocrd, Consul-General for the Netherlands at
Bush ire, proceeded to join a nevr appointment at Bankok in May, his acting
successor being Mr. *W. Grocneweg, of the firm of Hotz and Son,
M. Piat, Vice-Consul for France at Bushire, proceeded on leave to
France, leaving the Vice-Consulate in the charge of Haji Mirza Hoosain, the
Dragoman.
The Imperial Bank of Persia having effected an arrangement for the with­
drawal of the new Oriental Bank Corporation branches from Persia, has opened
a branch in Bushire, and the new Oriental Bank Corporation has closed busi­
ness there.
Mirza Ismail was appointed Depoty Governor of Lingah, and Mirza Hadi, of
Bunder Abbas. A detachment of 50 soldiers was stationed at Lingah.
Major E. Bruce, Bengal Cavalry, arrived for the purpose of buying mules
for Government and succeeded in obtaining over 800 animals, mostly pur­
chased at Ispahan and Tehran.
In the summer epidemic cholera having appeared at Bussorah and Moham-
merah, some cases were imported into Bushire by Captain Hughes, of the
Bombay and Persian Steam. Navigation Company’s steamer Mobile, before
quarantine could be established. Owing to the exertions of Surgeon-Major
T. Efrench Mullen aided by Mr. Apothecary Rodrigues, the disease was pre­
vented from spreading, and subsequently the Persian authorities, advised and
assisted by Dr. Mullen and subordinates, established quarantine which saved
Bushire, and probably most of Persia, from the epidemic. An interesting
memorandum, prepared by Dr. Mullen on this and previous outbreaks of cholera
in Persia, &c., will be appended to this report.
7.—PERSIAN ARABISTAN.
The steps taken during the year towards the establishment of the commer­
cial route from Mohammerah to Central and Northern Persia have still been
chiefly of a preliminary nature. Nevertheless, the progress made, though, as
anticipated, slow, is real The position of the English commercial agents
in Arabistan and Shush ter is unproved, and the good relations they have sue-
ceeded in establishing are highly creditable to themselves and advantageous
for trade.
At Mobammerah the Governor of Arabistan, the Nizam-es-Saltanah, has
built a Government house, a landing place, and a public bath. At Ahwaz
(Bunder Nasiri) buildings are in course of construction, and at Shushter a large
amount was spent in repairing the great bridge of Valerien, but unfortunately
the arches which had been repaired were swept away by a flood of the river
(Shateyr). A Company has now been formed in London which will undertake
the construction of roads from Ahwaz to Barujird, and Tehran, with a branch to
Ispahan, and a tramway is to be made from Bunder Nasiri to Ahwaz.
The stem wheel steamer Shushan has been presented to His Majesty the
Shah by Messrs. Lynch and is now running on the Upper Karon. There
is every reason to expect that merchandize in considerable quantities will soon,
be sent by this route.
Two cases of piracy on British Indian vessels occurred in the Shat-el-Arab
river, and all attempts to traoe the perpetrators failed.
Mohammerah suffered severely from epidemic cholera, which also visited
Arabistan generally, and Shswhter.
a