Page 408 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

2 ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

from Bunder Abbas. No authentic details regarding the progress of (lie disease
at this place have been received, but many pcoplo are said to have died. The
epidemic died out towards the end of January. Tho measures taken by the
local authorities at Bunder Abbas in accordance with the advice of Assistant
Surgeon Kirkpatrick wero successful in keeping the disease out of Bunder
Abbas. The measures for the prevention of ploguo throughout tho Gulf have
been efficiently carried out under the superintendence of the Residency
Surgeon.
5. Administration of the Customs in the Persian Gulf,—On tho 23rd Sep­
tember 1902, a satisfactory settlement having been arrived at between the
Persian Government and the Sheikh of Mobanmicrah, the management of the
Customs at Mohammerah and on the Karun was taken over by the Belgian
Customs Administration, and was placed undor the charge of the Director-
General in Bushirc. In February 1903, the Custom- Department at Moham­
merah was separated from the Gulf Customs Department and placed directly
under the Minister of Customs at Tehran, Monsieur Waffelaert being the first
Director-General of what is now termed tho Arabistan Customs Department.
Customs Houses have now, it is understood, been established at Bunder Nasri
ou the Karun and also at Dizful and Sbushter.
On the 11th February 1903 the hitherto prevailing duty of 5 per cent.
ad valorem on imports and exports was abolished and a new specific tarijf
was introduced. It is too early as yet to say for certain how the new tariff wili
affect trade generally, hut the first impression was that the Indian tea trade
would receive a serious check. I, however, am inclined to doubt if this will be
the ease, as the commodity, although the duty has been considerably raised, is
a cheap one and its consumption has taken a hold upon the people of the
country. The heavier classes of Manchester cotton goods may, it seems, be
adversely affected. Export duties have generally been abolished; hut the duty
on opium, which is the most important article of export from Persia, has been
largely increased. The introduction of the now tariff caused much consterna­
tion amongst the native merchants throughout Southern Persia, and telegrams
were sent from Bushirc and other places to the Shall and to the-Minister of
Customs praying for a postponement of the tariff for a period of three months
to enable the merchants to dispose of their goods then lying in the Customs
Houses aud on the way to Persia. The request was refused and consequently for
some time goods were not cleared from the Customs Houses and there was much
talk of a general agitation against the Government. At Shiraz the exci nent
scorns to have been greater than olsowhcrc in the south. At tho close u* the
year tho agitation seemed to be generally dying out though goods belonging to
up-country merchants still remained uncleared in tho Bushire Customs House.
The importance of Lingah as the port of transhipment for the Arab Coast
ports has declined, and steamers of the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation
Company now make regular callings at Debayo which has now become the
distributing cenlro for the Arab Coast.
. 6. Settlement of Claims.—Notwithstanding the efforts made by His
Majesty’s Legation and tins Residency, the settlement of our claims against the
Persian Government and Persian subjects has made no progress. The Special
Commissioner alluded to in last year’s report left for Tehran, having effected
nothing. A new Karguzar has recently arrived with special orders to take these
eases up.
7- Coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII.—Tho Coronation of
nis Majesty King Edward VII was celebrated on the 1st January 1903 at all
the places in the Gulf within the jurisdiction of this Residency.
II.—Oman— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., was Political Agent at Maskat thronghout the
Maskat.
year. With tho exception of occasional inter-tribal quarrels, the Sultan’s terri­
tories continued to enjoy peace and tranquillity. In December His HigbnesJ
tho Sultan sent his eldost son Saiyid Taimur to represent him at the Delhi
Coronation Darbar. Tho Political Agent’s report of the principal events in
Maskst during tho year forms Part II of this compilation.
ITI.—Oman— Tho pearling season was a good ono and high prices generally ruled. Tho
P. -ftto Coast.
peace at sea has been maintained and no caso of piracy or disturbances at sea