Page 372 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

24.
was then in I3aho, and collected the required amount. On Mir Abdullah's release, lie passed
through Bampur, and rendered his allegiance to the Persian Governor, who subsequently made
him his Naib. In this captivity he has aided iu levying imposts from his former friend, Din
Mahomed, from whom ho exacts a yearly tribute of 100 camels. To this was added last year
1,000 sitarnmis, all of which exactions are remitted to Bampur."
(vii) Colonel Goldsinid’s Second Report of 1801,
20. In tho Second Report is a brief
No. 9, dated Gvadur. 6tli February 18C-1.
Page 88, Volumo 80 of ISC-i. account of a visit to the ports of Charbar
and Qwettur. Of the former, it is said—
“The Wali or Governor, Rashid, has his ten Arab attendants, but the protection of tho
place is left to others. The yearly sum for which the revenues arc framed is said, on good
authority, to be R6,000. Its disposition is important, as showing the relations of the Imam
and his Mckrani neighbours
Rupees 9U0 to Diu Mahomed of Balio, for protective purposes.
„ 200 to Mir Abdullah of Geh, ditto.
„ 1,000 to the Wali iu charge.
„ 8,850 balance, to the imam, after defraying cost of establishment and incidental
expenditure.
“ Gwettur is described as‘a poor village'of about 70 mat-houses and 250 inhabitants.
It is situated near the north-west corner of the bay of the same name, hidden to the south-west
by the rocky projections which separate it from the beach behind Cape Farsa. I arrived at
about 3 p.m. on the 5th February, landed, and, after looking about me, sat down for a time
with the respectable old men who arc hereditary heads of tho community. Ilaji Morad,
llussolc, and Mithano are as patriarchs in this cluster of hovels. They received Ilaji Abdu,
my guide, as an old acquaintance; my own reception was as cordial and friendly as could
have been expected. One of the three brothers spoke Persian and Hindustani fluently, so we
had no difficulty iu becoming mutually intelligible.
“ My first impressious of l'ussni in 18G2 were not favourable to the rule of Faquir
Mahomed of Kcj. Those of Gwettur were not more so as regards Mahomed Ali, Judgal, of
Baho, its actual Chief; and the condition of the two ports is not so different as might at
first sight appeav. Faquir Mahomed has, or had, a certain revenue to realize, for which lie is
accountable to his Khan. Mahomed Ali has a like part to play on behalf of Mir Abdullah of
Geh, the agent of Uampur, and exactor of the Persian tribute. He or Din Mahomed, his
co-ruler, or both, had been summoued from Baho to Deli at the period of my visit to Gwettur.
* * * *
“ Haji Morad pays rupees 400 per anuum, as farmer of the Gwettur revenues; but there
is scarcely a bunnya in the town, nor a shop or store-house. The inhabitants arc called Mods,
•Durzadas, and Raises. The fisheries may be considered to be the only true source of revenue,
and I noticed some boats in the mouth of the little Gwettur River below the village. Some
also were sailing about the bay. No wish was apparent "to conceal from me the politics of
the country. While sitting together ill conclave on the mat outside their door, the old men
spoke to me with freedom, and heedless of the many listeners grouped around us. They
assured me that, until the present time, never within the memory of man had Persian claims
been urged upon Baho. They had formerly paid tribute to Kclat, blit bad since been indepen­
dent.
“The village was both dirty and desolate, and my slay there was not prolonged. An
hour or so seemed sufiieicnt to collect all requisite information, without giving rise to
unnecessary suspicions. There was an unmistakable dread and dislike of the Gujjur in the
place, and that not so much for himself, as that he brought the Dcluchi marauder in his track.
‘ You pay rupees 400 as farmer,’ said I to my host, ‘ whether the Gujjur came or not; of what
consequence, then is it to whom it is given by Mahomed Ali?' The reply was to the effect
‘that this was Mahomed Ali's own legitimate revenue, but having to give up his right to the
Gujjure, lie allowed his Bcluchis to make up his losses for him by unlawful means/ They
were victims to this kind of robbery.
“The old men accompanied me to the beach, and sheep and dahi were brought for my
acceptance on departure.
11 On taking a solitary stroll at Gwettur I had heard a voice crying—‘ welcome to the
country,' iu a language which might have been idiomatic Persian, but that there was some­
thing of Bcluchi in the substitution of ‘ Khub hasli' for ‘ Ivhusli amadi.' Turning round
to ascertain whence the sound proceeded, I had seen, about fifty yards behind me, an ill-clad
woman, with a child in her ami6, following my track ; and though she turned ofF and called
no further on ray looking towards her, the movement and her very silence at such a time ha
seemed to give a deeper meaning to her former cry. My boatmen told me that Ilaji Morad «
family were proposing to remove to Gwadur. I thought it not improbable, nor should!
wonder if the whole village came there."