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63. Kishm Island was visited by a terrible calamity. On the night of the
nth January an earthquake laid the town in refuse, only two musjids and
three or four other buildings being left standing. Sixteen hundred bodies were
reported to have been recovered from the ruins, besides those of strangers
which were not identified. Shocks were felt as far as Lingah to the west, and
on the neighbouring island of Larak where some loss of life was also reported.
64. The harvest in 1896-97 was a failure, only 7*98 inches of rain having
been registered at Bushire during that
Gulf Administration Report for 1897-98.
period, so that there was not sufficient
grain to meet local requirements, and the country had to depend upon heavy
exports of rice, especially from Burma. Prices yet stood very high. “It is a
proof,” writes the Resident on the Gulf Administration for 1897-98, “of the
increase in property of Bushire during the past 25 years that in spite* of these
high rates there has not been actual famine and it has not been necessary to
provide, public relief.”
64 A. In view of the prospect of a famine, the Resident applied for and
obtained the sanction of Government for
External A., December 1897, Nos. 54-58.
the unexpended surplus of Rs. 14,000
of the Famine Relief Fund referred to in Section IV above being spent for the
relief of those in distress (No. 1783.E.A., dated 23rd November 1897).
There was however a timely fall of rain in March 1898, though the winter
rains had held off, with the result that a severe and extensive famine was averted.
XI.—Events in 1897—1902.
Riots at Bushire caused by Tangastanis. Landing of Blue-jackets from the
“ Sphinx ” to protect the Telegraph Offices at Reshire and Bushrie, 1898.
65. There was a great deal of crime at Bushire and its neighbourhood during
Gulf Administration Report for 1897-98. 1897-98. The high prices prevailing
Secret E., December 1897, Nos. 54-58. and consequent distress were the chief
causes of the disorders that prevailed ;
Secret E.. September 1898, Nos. 253-56.
but they were also fomented by local
rival apirants for power, who wished to discredit each other. Another source
of danger to Bushire is tbe neighbourhood of the Tangistanis, a tribe inhabiting
the hilly broken country which lies between the lofty tableland of Iram, and
the flat strip of sandy shore between the foot of the hills and the sea. Tangistan,
as its name implies, consists of a succession of “ Tangs ” or defiles, and
in an almost impossible country fer regular troops to enter. Sir James Outram
forbore to pursue the defeated enemy when they had retreated into this region,
after the victory of Khushab, and the thorough conquest of the tribes who
occupy it would be a difficult undertaking, especially now that they are generally
armed with breech-loading rifles. The Tangistanis played an important part
in the defence of Reshire Fortin the campaign of 1856-57, and they have
for many years been employed as irregular troops by the Persian authorities.
The Malek-ut-Tujjar had several in his’pay, and it has been the practice among
the Persians to play off one tribe against another, and to employ one leader
to coerce another. Accordingly, towards the close of 1897, Hyder Khan, a
Tangistani leader, was deputed to punish Ali Khan, another who had not paid
his revenue. Hyder Khan being successful, his opponent came to Bushire and
took “ Bust ” or sanctuary at the Imamzada, a shrine near Reshire. He had
a large number of followers with him, and it is said that they committed many
of the numerous violent crimes that took place in the early part of 1898. As
there were reasons to apprehend that an attack would be made on the telegraph
station, and on Europeans generally, a small party of Blue-jackets was landed
in March, and were retained till an addition to the Resident’s escort of 25
sepoys arrived from Bombay. The position of affairs at Bushire at that time
gave rise to some anxiety, as the small garrison had been reduced by the
despatch of some 150 regulars to the Mekran coast, and the Governor-General
was directed by the Persian Government to send a force from Shiraz to coerce
the Tangistanis. After considerable delay some 800 men were sent under the
command of the Said-us-Sultan, an officer on the staff of the Farman Farma.

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