Page 554 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

12 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULV POLITICAL
infection readied Shiraz, for its arrival was quickly followed by a general
exodus of tho Porsian community which was maintained until the end of
August, when tho town was declared free from disease.
Tho persistent levy of Rahdari dues in one form or another in the province
of Fare has been a constant cause of complaint during tho year, and tho matter
ha9 the attention of His Majesty’s Legation.
The opium crop in and around 8hiraz suffered a good deal from the severe
cold which was experienced this winter, but fortunately the damage done is
likely to be more than counterbalanced by the fulness of other crops.
Lingah.—It was found, when the divers returned from tho pearl banks,
that their take during tho season was only } that of last year and that the
average prices fetched were about 25 per oent. loss.
y
SI In January 1904 two inhabitants of the Island of Sirri, who w j.e passen­
gers from Shargah on the pirate coast in a Dhow belonging to Kishm, over­
powered tho crew and shot them and their fellow-passengers dead, except one.
small boy, who saved himself by jumping overboard. Among the murdered
men was a Khoja British Bubjeot.
V
li Information of the murder reached the Deputy Governor of Lingah
through the small boy referred to who had managed to gain the shore unhurt,
and the two culprits were thus traced and subsequently arrested.
As they were now in Persian custody and in Persian territory, the Local
Government were asked to have their punishment carried out without prejudice
to the question of the ownership of Sirri Island. To this the Persian Govern­
ment agreed, and His Excellency the Darya Begi was instructed to hare the
murderers taken out to sea and drowned. In the meanwhile, however, they had
been allowed to escape by their guard at Lingah. One has now been
re-arrested and put to death iu the maimer ordered ; the other is still at large.
The Customs Administration reduced the salaries of some of their emplovds
at Lingah owing to decrease in the revenue of the Port. In this connection
the cash receipts for the six months ending 22nd September were reported to
amount to about 45,009 rupees, as against 56,000 realised for the c >responding
period last year.
The Vice-Consulate at Bunder Abbas has cow been raised to a Consulate.
Bunder Abbas.—Captain A. P. Trevor, held charge of the post from the
beginning of the year up to tue month of August, when he took up the duties
of First Assistant Resident at Boshire. Lieutenant Sh&kespear, who was
appointed to succeed him, did not arrive till 20th November.
During this interregnum on 21st October, the British Commercial Alission
about to tour in Benda arrived in Bonder Abbas and, in the absence of a
British .Consular representative, had to pat up with much obstruction from the
Local Customs representative, which was only withdrawn after considerable
telegraphic correspondence. At every important place visited except Bunder
Abbas they were treated with. much, courtesy ' and attention. The Belgian
official, who was responsible for what occurred, has since been transferred.
X.—Kerman # Major P. K. Sykes, C.M.G., continued to hold the office of His Britannic
and Persian
Baluchistan. Majesty s Consul, Kerman, until a few days before the close of the year when
he proceeded to officiate as Consul-General at Meshed during the ?ibsence of
Colonel Miochin.
In May 1904 Monsieur Miller arrived as Consul for the Bussian
Government.
His Highness Zaher-es-Sultan was again appointed Governor.
The most important event which oocmred within the scope of the Kerman
Consulate was the advent of the Commercial Mission to Kerman and Eastern
Persia under the Presidency of Mr. Arthur Gleadow-Newcomen reprewnting
primarily the Upper India Chamber of Commerce, with wh<»m were associated
Mr. B. B. Huffman as Assistant Delegate and Ur. P. F. Evan as Secretary.
It is to
, .. _ he regretted tbat fire two Phiai Drlegatee, who were ai first nominated
by the Bombay Chamber of Conrnexee, were subsequently withdrawn, and tbcir