Page 154 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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VI.—Events in 1877-83.
31. The Ihtesham-ed-DowIch, the nominal Governor of Bushire, visited
Gulf Administration Report for 1876*77. remained there for 50 days/During *hts
stay, Hyder Khan, the Chief of Dashti, who had not visited Bushire for many
years, considered it advisable to put in an appearance, as the force which accom­
panied the Ihtcsham was formidable and His Royal Highness had shown a
determination to bring under subjection any tribe which might show an
inclination to be rebellious.
2a. His Royal Highness Prince Fcrhad Mirza succeeded in maintaining
Gulf Administration Report for 1877*78 and the security of the routes in a perfectly
1878*70. unprecedented manner. The Prince had a
Political A., December 1879, Nos. 472*74.
very efficient assistant in his son, Prince
Awais Mirza, the " lhtesham-ed-Dowleh,” Governor of Behbehan, who usually
made a tour yearly through the Southern Districts of Fars. The restoration
and maintenance of good order was not accomplished without recourse to
severities, a record of which would not be agreeable reading.
23. The British Agent at Shiraz, Mirza Hassan Ali Khan, proceeded in
March 1878, under the orders of the Gov­
Political A., January 1880, Nos. 61*63.
ernment, to Tehran on special duty, and
had been succeeded temporarily by his brother, Hyder Ali Khan.
34. The weekly Persian post, which had been established between Bushire
and the North, worked excellently. A
Political A., February 1880, Nos. 167*69.
census was ordered to be taken throughout
Fars in 1874.
25. Haji Ismail Khan, the Deputy Governor of Bushire, was relieved by
Agha Mahomed Bakir Khan. The
Political A., February 18S0, Nos. 234*38.
“ lhtesham-ed-Dowleh, *' who had a
general supervision of all the Southern Districts, visited Bushire in February
1878, and proceeded to Shiraz by way of Dashti and Lar.
26. Mirza Mahomed Khan, for many years Foreign Office Agent at
Bushire, was removed, at the instance of the British representative, for mis­
conduct, and the duties of the office were then conducted by Mirza Abdul
Kerim, as a temporary measure.
27. In 1874 died at Bushire the principal Persian merchant, Agha Mahomed
Ali, styled “ Malek-ut-Tujjar, ” who was reported to be the richest private
person in Persia. He died childless, and his property devolved on his elder
brother, Haji Baba, naturalized British Indian subject residing at Bushire.
28. In 1875 a grain riot occurred, said to have been at the instigation of
certain Mujtahids, or priests, and some wheat belonging to a British Indian
subject was plundered. The Acting Resident took prompt and judicious measures,
and the ringleaders were arrested, punished, forced to pay the full value of the
grain stolen. At Bushire, as at other ports of the Persian coast, there was
a prohibition on the export of grain, which was very largely evaded.
29. Hyder Khan, Chief of Dashti, who had frequently been a source of
annoyance to the authorities, declined to come in to the camp of the Ihtesham-
ed-Dowleh at Bushire, but decided to proceed to Shiraz under assurances of
pardon for past shortcomings. His brother, Mahomed Khan, presented him­
self before the lhtesham-ed-Dowleh, and proposed to supersede Hyder Khan.
The latter died at Shiraz, an event which gave rise to what may be considered
unfounded, though not unusual, suspicions.
30. Coast frovi Bushire to Lingah.—The Shaikh of Kongoon, Mazkoor
Khan, was taken to Shiraz as prisoner, and his districts made over to one
Mahomed Hassan Khan ; but the latter was detected in suspicious practices,
and after administration of the usual course of sticks or bastinado, was sent
to Shiraz as prisoner, encourager les autres.