Page 474 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

2 ADMINISTRATION BEI’ORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
Administration of Customs in the Fenian Gulf.—The year has been
marked by tbe freneral extension of tho authority of the Imperial Customs
Administration throughout tho Gulf, several of the minor ports, where the
Customs were in tho hands of tho Local Chiefs, having been taken over by
tho Department.
Some captures of arms have been made in the vicinity of Bunder Abbas
and elsewhere. Ihcro is little doubt that tho gradual extension of the Customs
Administration under European management is making tho smuggling of
arms into Persia more difficult.
The new Persian steamer tho Hazafferi has done some useful work for
tho Customs Department during tho year.
It will bo seen from the Trado Report that the new tariff has not as yet
affected British trade adversely. Tea, on which tho duty was greatly increased,
shows a fair increase; and indigo, on which the duty was also considerably
enhanced, shows an improvement. The dccreaso in tho import of Manchester
piece-goods is probably duo to an overstocked market.
5. Settlement of Claims.—The new Karguzar referred to in last year’s
Report proved unsatisfactory and did nothing towards the settlement of out­
standing claims. Some of these, however, have been disposed of during the year
by the efforts of His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran.
G. The Viceroy's visit to the Persian Gulf—The most noteworthy event
during the year was tho visit to the Persian Gulf of Ilis Excellency Lord
Curzon, Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
His Excellency the Viceroy in tho R.I.M.S. Hardinge escorted by H.M.S.
Hyacinth, flagship of Rear-Admiral Atkinson-AVille^ and H.M.3.S. Fox,
Pomone and Argonaut, arrived at Maskat on the ISth November. At Maskat
a grand durbar was held on board the Argonaut at which His Highness the
Sultan of Maskat was invested with tho insignia of the Graud Cross of the
Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.
The next place visited was Shargah on the Arabian Coast of the Persian
Gulf, where the Viceroy with the escorting squadron arrived on the 21st
November. A durbar was held on board 1I.M.S. Argonaut and was attended
by all the Trucial Chiefs who were awaiting His Excellency’s arrival at Shargah
on board tho Indian Government Telegraph Ship Patrick Stevcart, which
had been deputed to collect them. Bunder Abbas was reached on the morning
of the 22nd November, and here His Excellency was met officially by 8ir
Arthur Hardinge, British Minister at Tehran, who had come to meet the
Vioeroy and accompany him during his tour. His Excellency the Salar-i-
Moazzim, Governor of Busbire and the Gulf Ports, was present here, having
come in the Persepolis to welcome the Viceroy on behalf of the Persian
Government After visiting the adjacent islands and tbe British station at
Bassidore, the Viceroy proceeded to LiDgah, which was reached on the 21tb. Bis
Excellency the Salar-i-Moazzim was here entertained to dinner on board tbe
Hardinge. Leaving Lingah on the 25th, the Hardinge, escorted by the Pomone
and the Sphinx, proceeded to Bahrein, which was reached on the 26th-
Sheikh La, Chief of Bahrein, was received by His Excellency the Viceroy
on board the Hardinge, and in the evening Lord Curzon paid an informal visit
to Manamob, where he was received by the Chief.
Bahrein was left on the 27th and Koweit was reached on the 28th, where tbe
rest of the escorting squadron had already arrived. Sheikh Mubarek, Chief of
Koweit, accompanied by his eldest son Sheikh laber, paid a visit to the Viceroy
on board the Hardinge, and on the following day Lord Curzon landed at a
point three miles from Koweit, where he was met by the Chief, with a large
following of mounted men. A carriage was in waitiug for His Excellency
who, accompanied by the Chief, was driven to the Chief’s houso in Koweit.
The route throughout was lined by crowds of Arabs, and His Excellency’s visit
was marked by much enthusiasm.
The Hardinge, with the squadron, arrived at Bushire on tbe 2nd
December. Here, unfortunately, a hitch in the arrangements ordered bv the
Persian Government for the reception of the Viceroy prevented His Excellency