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their families towards Bandar Abbas, closing the trade routes, plundering cara­
vans, and spreading the greatest alarm by their depredations almost up to Bandar
Abbas.
48. His Majesty's Ship Cossack was ordered from Bombay for the pro­
tection of British subjects at Bandar Abbas, where she remained until all danger
of an attack was over. Persian troops were sent from Bushire and other coast
ports in the S. S. Pcrse/>o/is, and the Prince Governor of Kerman was ordered to
intercept the rebels from the north. The Arabs retreated and no fighting took
place. The troops then returned and traffic on the caravan route was resumed.
Pardon was offered to the Baharloos by the new Governor-General on condition
of their future good behaviour, and probably the return of their patron, the
Kowwan-ul Mulk, from Meshed contributed to their pacification. The Governor
of Darab was arrested.
49. The epidemic of cholera, which raged virulently in the northern parts
of Persia, did not penetrate further south than Shiraz. It first showed itself at
Iklid, six stages from Hiiraz, having followed the caravan road from Meshed,
thence it spread gradually to Fasa and Niris. Comparatively few cases occur­
red at Shiraz itself, but it was not until December that the disease finally died
out. The mortality at and round about Fasa was about one thousand five
hundred ; at Istabanat and Shiraz two hundred each.
50. Disturbances occurred in 1892 in the Bushire district owing to feuds
between Khan Ali Khan of Bandar Rig and Muhammad Khan of Rudhilla, and
to the discontent of both with the Governor, whose policy it was to play off one
against the other. Muhammad Khan of Angali, however, was murdered in a
blood feud, and his rival appears to have made his peace with the Government.
51. In December 1892 Jafar Khan, the Zabit of Dilam, was said to be
evading payment of revenue, and thirty soldiers were sent by the Deputy Gover­
nor of Bushire to arrest him. The townspeople rose in his favour and a fight
ensued in which'the soldiers were worsted. Jafar Khan was afterwards replaced
by the Zabit of Reshire.
52. In July 1S92 a Bahrein boat lying off Kasr Konar was plundered by
eleven armed men at Bandar Tibbin, and
Gulf Administration Report for 189-293.
cash and goods, valued at Rs. 880, were
stolen. Application for redress was made to the Prince Governor of Fars, but
without result.
53. In August 1892 a determined attack was made on Kasr Konar by the
A1 Bu Fakhara, who formerly farmed it, but were supplanted by another
tribe and immigrated to El-Katr, where they have resided for the last eighteen
years. According to the accounts received seven of the inhabitants of Kasr
Konar were killed and property valued at 70,000 kratis was carried off. In
retaliation the Kasr Konar people shortly afterwards seized three boats belong­
ing to El-Katr. A complaint of this was made by Shaikh Jasim-bin-Thani,
but he was informed that unless he prevented such outrages by people within
his jurisdiction, he must expect reprisals.
54. An embargo on the export of wheat was published in May 1893 and
continued nominally in force till the follow­
Gulf Administration Report for 1893-94.
ing January, when it was removed. “ The
measure,” observes the Resident in the Gulf Administration Report for 1893-94,
“which is of periodical recurrence, though injuriously affecting the regular
operations of the more important merchants, who are Europeans, is very generally
recognized, as being practically ineffectual. Any real restraint on export from
the rich corn producing sea-board tracts from Bushire towards the mouth of the
Euphrates, would be most difficult; and even if seriously intended or attempted,
would be hardly practicable, in view of the fact that scarcely any other means
than by sea are available for disposing of the produce. A thinly veiled and
yKflsz-surreptitious export is understood to be carried on at Bushire itself during
these embargoes."
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