Page 433 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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CHAPTER XIII.

State of the District# through which the Telegraph line passes from
G wet tar to Jask, 1902-1004.
202. The following report scut by Mr. J. 0. Twolls, Assistant Superinten­
dent to the Director of the Persian Gulf
External A, July 1001, Nos. 14* 10.
Telegraphs, dated 28th March 1004, about
the state of tho districts through wbioli the telegraph line passes from Gwettar
to Jask will bo read with interest as the most recent official account giving us
a history of the intornal alfairs of the country for 2 or 3 years previously.
Baku District.— The Chiefs of this district are Sard an Ahmed Khan and As hr a/Khan
who jointly carry on the work, collect tho revenue and pay the taxes yearly to the Governor of
Kerman. Baku was till a few years ago a most flourishing district, out owing to scarcity and
the oppression of the Chiefs, th<* inhabitants have lelt the country and gone to India, a great
number settling in Karachi. Till last year the only men of money and property were the Maids
(fishermen) and Luttis (owners of cattle and cultivators) who were the main support of the
Chiefs. The former resided at Gwettar and left last year for Jowny owiug to the Chiefs'
looting them. Not satisfied with what they had taken at Gwettar and being annoyed at the
men leaving the district, Ahmed Khan with the concurrence of the Nazim of the Mckran
proceeded to Jowuy and again looted them. Tho inon were compelled to borrow the money
demanded, and seeing they could get no protection at Jcwny, have now settled down in
Gwadur. The Lattis also left Babu at the same time as the Maids and for a short time stayed
at Ankara in the Sultan of Maskat's territory where the Chiefs were unable to molest them.
They then came to Dasht and settled down there till the early part of this year. I hear they
have now left Dasht and are on their way to Lus Beyla, where they originally came from.
About the beginning of the year Affined Khan ambushed some Latlis and their slaves who
went to their fields in the Balm district to graze their cattle. They were taken prisoners and
only released sometime after on payment of a large sura of money by the tribe. Their cattle
and slaves being confiscat ed. Since my arrival at Jask I hear these Chiefs have turned away
the Customs Otfici-d at Gwettar after severely beating and ill-treating him, but I cannot vouch
for the accuracy of this statement. The Chiefs complain that since the port has been taken
from them, their revenue has decreased considerably aud no reduction is made by the Governor !
of Kerman who in fact demands extra money.
8. Dashtyari District.—At present under the joint control of the brothers, Sadars Ahdi
Khan ana Mahmood Khan. This district has for years been in an unsettled state owing to
quarrels between the brothers in consequence of which tho petty headmen and ordinary
Baluchis of any standing were quite out of hand, some siding with Abdi and others with
Mahmood Khan. The hrothers were constantly making raids into each others districts; this
led eventually to indiscriminate looting in which British Indian subjects suffered considerable
losses. I pointed out to the brothers there was sufficient room for both of them in the district if
they would only come to an amicable understanding and work together. This they have now
done, and one of Mahmood Khan's first acts was to notify all headmen that robbery in the
district was to immediately cease and any one found molesting British Indian subjeote would
be severely punished. It was not long before he had occasion to carry out his threat and two
men of the Hot tribe died from tho effects of injuries received for attempting to rob a British
Indian trader on his way to Dashtyari from Charbar. Of the brothers Mahmood Klian is
the stronger man. He is hasty of temper and quick to take action and commands both respect
and fear. He is also supported by his cousin. Sardar Said Khan, whose help he can always
rely on in an emergency. British Indiau traders informed me that all robbery has ceased
in the district aud their property is now quite safe.
4. Gath District.—Sardar Said Khan i6 the Chief of the district and the strongest and
most feared Chief in the Mckran. He and his father before him have been the Chiefs of
Gaih for mauy years. About two years ago the country was takeu from him and made over
to Sardar Mohim Khan. lie then proceeded to Keiman, and on largely incieasing the sum
the district is yearly farmed for, was re-in-tated. On resuming charge about iho middle of last
year, his first act was to seize, plunder and destroy property of the adherents of Mohim Khan.
As the sura of moucy ho has promised the Governor of Kerman cannot be obtained by legiti­
mate taxes, he has had to have recourse to tyranny and oppression and to 6uch an extent as has
never been known before. On his visit to Bintb he looted all the men with any property aud
1 hear somo British Indian subjects also. He moves about with a large armed following and
is thus able to enforco his demands. He was the first to introduce selling as slaves the
lower and poorer cla<s of Baluchis. They aro sent to tho ports of Tank, Gnlag and Sadceh
where boats from the Arabian Coast call solely for tho purpo.-e of taking away slaves. Need­
less to say his example is being followed by others. The proceeds of this traffic in slaves is
used to a great extent in importing guns from Maskat. The Henry-Martini is being discarded
for the magazine rille, Lcc-Metford pattern. I will now deal with tho small districts, the
keadracu of which arc paid by us half-yearly.
Parag, Sirgan and Kir Districts.—-The headmen aro, respectively, Hots Fakir, Mohamed,
Sher Mohamed'and lihai Khan. Tho former bus incurred the displeasure of Said Knun for