Page 159 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

*5
sent out. Ahmed Khan being joined by some of the people of Tangistan and
Shabankara was able to maintain his resistance, till a small reinforcement was
despatched, and at the same time, orders to effect an amicable settlement. Me
was then induced to present himself at Bushire with a strong armed following
and received a firman from the Governor investing him with the authority in
oisputc. At Tahiri on the coast Shaikh Ibrahim resisted by force the transfer
to another of the post lie had held, and maintained his position in the fort, neces*
sitating the despatch of a considerable force for his expulsion. At Lingah some
alarm was caused by the violence of one Syed Yusuf who, having killed a man,
evaded the attempt made to arrest him, and brought a party to the attack of
the fort. A more vigorous attempt at his arrest under the direction of the
Kowwan-ul-Mulk also failed, as did an effort to induce him to return to Lingah.
In the early part of the year there was much uneasiness in Bushire in conse­
quence of the frequent acts of robbery and violence in the immediate neighbour­
hood.
58. Grain export again lay under a nominal embargo throughout the year.
It was freely . evaded for most of the
Gulf Administration Report for 1895-96.
period; indeed one of its objects would
appear to be the opportunity afforded by it for the levy of an illegitimate cess
for connivance at its evasion without an open violation of the treaty rights
governing the duties in foreign trade.
59. His Highness Hissam-es-SuItaneh, who, on the fall of the Kowwan-ul-
Mulk at the close of the year 1895-96,
Gulf Administration Report for 1896-97.
was appointed to the Governorship of
Bushire and the Gulf ports, proceeded in a very leisurely manner to the seat of
his authority, not arriving at Bushire till the middle of June. His earliest difficulty
arose in connection with the transfers of certain of the coast districts and villages
from the authority of Khan Ali Khan to that of Hyder Khan, a step which was
strenuously resisted by the former, whose death however a few weeks later tended
to smooth matters.
60. In autumn Hyder Khan was afforded the aid of troops, with guns from
the Persian gunboat Pcrscpolis to coerce his people and recover revenues, and
later, further reinforcements followed. There was a collision between the
opposing forces, and a deputation of the people then came in, and a compromise
with some authorities was effected. M vder Khan being himself pressed for a
payment under this compromise, a month later, presented his pistol at the dele­
gate, who thereupon returned, followed by the troops and guns to Bushire.
6t. The Hissam-es-Sultaneh’s rule was marked by an utter neglect of all
the duties and obligations oi his office.
The arrangement in its financial aspect, as regards the payment of the
revenue, with which alone in this as in similar cases the Central Government
concerned itself, having been taken up by the mercantile coalition which had
ousted the Kowwan-ul-Mulk, the only incentive to the Governor to burden himself
with public affairs, largely disappeared. Power was accordingly wielded by
others, with all the abuses and disadvantages which attach to authority covertly
exercised. Nor was this the only evil, for His Highness Hissam-es-Sultaneh’s
tenure of office was itself constantly in jeopardy, the result of financial difficulties,
with the Government, and in December he officially notified his resignation to the
Residency, and declined to transact business. The difficulty not only of con-
ducting official business, but of securing redress in cases urgently demanding it,
was perhaps never more acutely felt than during this regime; irresponsible
secretly exercised influence aggravated the malpractice and abuse ordinarily
existing, and the ill results were exhibited in many directions.
62. Luristan was the scene of much disorder. Shaikh Ibrahim, aforetime
Governor of Tahiri, attacked the palace with his followers, but lost heavily
and was repulsed. The Baharloos and nomad Arab tribes also attacked Jam
and spread violence and rapine throughout the district. An attack on Lingah
was threatened, and some fears appear to have been felt even at Bandar Abbas.