Page 284 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

251- Part III.
P«nian Gulf, render it ti pec tally inexpedient that Turkish officials should be allowed, under
the pretext oj enforcing quarantine regulations, to interfile in the ajjairs of Arab tribes under the
influence of Her Majesty*s Government. It will lo observed moreover from tl»o letter cited in
From Mnjnr lUvc* SaJIcr, dated Dili October tl»0 margin that Highness tho Sultan of Mnskat
1894, in iMirii'iurc No. 3. would object to sanitary posts at Gwadur and Mas*
kat, and if this portion of tho scheme woro left unexecuted, the object with which the measures
liavo boon proposed would ho defeated. Similar considerations apply to Fao. The position
of this place at the month of tho Shal-cl-Arah would render these quarantine measures ineffec­
tive without tfio nssont and-co-operation of Persia. It would bo contrary to tho provision of
tho. capitulations and of tho treaty, of Erzcro.um for tho sanitary establishment at Fao to
eoutrol tho movemont of British and Perpinn ships bound for any plaoo on the Persian side
of the stream. Sueh' control would amount to oxoroiso of sovereignty over tho entire Shat-
cl*Arab to the detriment of Persian rights and of our traflio with Basrah. Not improbably,
as has been pointed out in tho courso of tho correspondence,- tho assertion of such a claim is
tho real objoet of llie Ottoman Government in its desire to establish a lazarot at Fao.”
391. In spito of tho British protests, a quarantino post was established at
Fao by the Turkish' Govcrnmont in'1891.

(ix) ,(1) Blackmailing of British Indian Native craft by Turkish
officers on the Shat1 el-Arab. (2) Quarantine restrictions. (3)
Proposed appointment of a Consul at Fao, 1894-95.
392. When tho datc season commenced in 1694, wo found that the Turkish
officials having recourse to illegal deten­
Srcret £.,March 1695, Nci. 71-141.
tions of Indian craft at Fao and to
vexatious exactions from tho montli'of ‘Augu'st. There wero four institutions
at Fao, which, with or without authority of the Turkish Government, vied with
one another in levying extortions from British vessels :—
(1) Tho Quarantine.
(2) The Customs.
(3) The Tobacco'R^gie.
(4) 'The* Gunpowder.
393. Tbo illegal .practices °* tho Turkish officials at Fao are < briefly
described in Captain Beville’s lettor dated 12th October 1894:—
“Many veseels which arrive in the river are destined for Mohararaerah, but it has always
been the custom that on. arrival at Fao tbe vessels arc stopped and subjected to the Turkish
quarantine regulations. Other officials taking advantage of this board the vessels and the
crew have to pay for any tobacco or arms and'ammunition that there may bo on board for
their own use. No receipts arc given, and the payments made are simply bribes claimed by
the officials under threats of seizure of the articles' mentioned. Iu addition to this, it is also
customary for tbe Customs authorities to detain a portion of the ship'slequi-pmonts which is
returned on the outward voyage, on production of documents rolating to the cargo, but not
before further bribes are paid.
394. Among others the following cases of illegal ‘extortion wero reportod
between August and October:—
“Nakoda Abdullah of Baghdad fJarsingar, 150-C. of Karachi, bound for Mohammerah
aDd arrived at Fao on 31st August lb94, was fined Its. 7 for having a bottle of soufE on
board. The snuff was also seized.
. Nakoda Khudadad of Alooltan-i-Karachi, 478-C., owner Pitoosurdas of Karachi, bound
for Basrah, arrived at Fao on Ctb September 1894, was put in quarantino there and made to
pay one nipco to Customs official and one to the Rdgie officer as “dasturi".' His tail was
also detained at Fuo and he had also to pay one rupee “dasturi” at Dowasir.
Nakoda Ismail Ibrahim’ of Kullianputsa, Cutcb, 4775-S., owner Junga Jooma Ismail,
bound for Mohammerah, arrived at Fao on 9th September 1894, where he was put in 24
hours1 quarantine and made to pay 11s. 7 as “dasturi" to Customs ltdgie and Gunpowder
officials. His sail was also detained at Fao.
Nakoda Amoo of the S'ooltain of Okhamnndu), 1891-C., bound for Mobammorah in ballast
but had GO tins, of fish oil belonging to owner for sail at Mohammerah, arrived at Fao on 12th
Ootobcr 1894, ‘when. be.’was put iu quarantino for one day, and tho Customs charged him
duty of Its. 40 on the fish oil.
Nakoda Ilaji lisa of Dinghy Pathul Karim of Karachi (certificate No. % 1890),
bound for Basrah, was on arrival at Fao put in quarantine, asked to pay " daeturi ” R»* *
Customs, official which 1m did, was asked by Dowasir Customs oflioial to givo a pnokago of
charcoal, and he did os Nakoda Shadud did.

■