Page 357 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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CHAPTER II.
• Telegraph ami Mckran: Persian pretensions.
4>. Wc arc first brought in tlic nineteenth century in political contact with
the Chiefs of what now constitutes the Persian Baluchistan in connection with
the project of a telegraph lino by land to Bunder Abbas. Our earlier attempts
in 1801—02—03, to construct a lino along the coast even as far as Gwadur,
were thwarted by the Persian Governor of Barapur, and the project for
continuation of the lino from Gwadur to Bunder Abbas had to be
postponed owing to Persian opposition among other reasons.
(i) Reverend Mr. Badger’s Reports.
5. Wc have an interesting report in connection with the country through
which the telegraphic line was projected
Political A, July 18G3. Noj. 122-124.
from the pen of Reverend* Hr. George
Percy Badger (in charge of the Muscat-Zanzibar Commission), addressed to
the Bombay Government (No. 9, dated 3rd June 1S61), which, throwing as it
does much light on the previous history of the province, is quoted at length
below: —
Agreeably with the instructions conveyed to mo in your letter, No. 1607, of 1861, I
took advantage of my lato visit to Muscat to collect all available information respecting the
coast from Bunder Abbas fc*» Kurracbeo bearing in any way on the suggested lino of Electric
Telegraph between thoso places, to be extended from Bunder Abbas to Hasra or Bagdad.
I was fortunate in finding at Muscat several very intelligent Beloocbi Chiefs, who wore well
acquainted with the social and political condition of the intermediate countries, and whose
statements have enabled mo to form a tolerable estimate of the difficulties, as well as of the
facilities, attached to ibe proposed scheme: these I shall now proceed to set forth for the
information of the Hon'ble the Uovornor in Council.
2. The territory between Bunder Abbas and Sudrej, a place on the coast, about sixty
miles eastward of the small town of Jask, is at present under the jurisdiction of Syed
Thoweynce of Muscat, who holds it in farm from the Persian Government, under the
conditions of the Treaty concluded with that Government by Iiis late Highness Syed Saeed
in 1856. Moor Hossein, the existing Governor of Jaslc, on the part of His Highness Syed
Thoweynee, and wh im I saw at Musoat, informed mo that the country between Jask and
Bunder Abbas was here and there well cultivated, especially in the vicinity of the villages,
and afforded, moreover, extensive pasturage grounds for the numerous fl 'cks kept by the
Beloochis. He gave the following as the principal villages on tho ordinary route between
Jask and Bunder Abbas :—
From Jask to Koh (Moobarok) . G hours.
„ Koh to G&tlnn . 1 hour.
„ tiattan to Sereck . 18 hours.
„ Screck to Oran (.Gron) , H
„ Gron to Kustnck . . G
„ Kustack to Minab . • 12
„ 3Iinab to Uundor Abbas . 12
Mecr Hossein represented tho inhabitants of this district as quiet and peaceable, and saw
no difficulty whatever in the establishment of the Electric Telegraph along that line of the
coast if Syed Thoweynee undertook to protect it, and if the Persian Government sanctioned
the enterprise.
8. His Ilighuoss Syed Thoweynee has officially intimated to Government t bis readiness
to co-operate in the undertaking wherever his
t Sac his letter to Sir Georgo Clerk in my jurisdiction extended, and he repeatedly assured
Report, No. 6, of 1st Juno.
me of his ability to protect the lino from Bunder
Abhas to Jask and Sudrej if not interfered with by the Persians. This latter proviso
comprises a* consideration of serious importance in connection with the suggested scheme,
since, according to the conditions of the Treaty referred to *n paragraph 2, the Sultan of
Muscat is bouud to oxcludc the Agents of any foreign Government from the territories
comprised within the limits of the farm ; and by the geueral tenor of tho Articles of that
Treaty, His Highness is obviously deprived of the prerogative of granting an absolute
permission for such an undertaking as the Electric Telegraph between Bunder Abbas and
Sudrej. The correctness of this reference will be apparent to the Government after a perusal
of the Treaty itself, which I purposo attaching to my letter No. 10, dated 5th June 1861,
• For a general account of tho construction of tho telegraph lino in tho Persian Gulf and along tho Uekran
Coa.t sec Precis on Commerce and Communications in the Persian Gulf.
4620 F. D.