Page 434 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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not sending him his magazine rifle which he wrote and .asked him for. IIo has taken away
the district and imposod a fine on him. I advised^ b’akir Mohamed to givo up the gun, but
this lie de -lined to do. Shcr Mohamed and Hhni Khan appear to bo harmless and inoffensive
men and tho district is quiet. The latter asked me for protection from Said Khan. 1 told
him I could give him nono os ho was not our subject and the present ho received from us waa
for work required of him.
Rir District.—Nominal ln-adman d/ir Syudullah, hut the work of the district is carried on
by his younger brother, Sheroo and his uncle, Sahib Khan. An attack of brain fever three or
four years ago has affected him, and he is not in his right mind. lie is very rarely in his
district but keeps knocking about and is allowed to do just as lie pleases. Mir llalno, a
relation, is claiming a part of the present drawn by Syudullah on the grounds that he shares a
part of tho Customs of Tank ami has a voice in the administration of the district. He would
not have dared to put forward this claim had Syudullah boon in his light mind. He has
done trifling damage to tho line and imprisoned and ill-treated the lino guard's son. He is
also responsible for the loss of 15 goats belonging to tho lino guard avIio has been compensated
for this loss. Tank is tho port of iho district. A Customs Official, Mr. Mirza Yantz, landed
there about three years ago to take over the Customs. Syudullah refused to give it up and
ordered him to leavo at onco or he would attack him. The official left, threatening to send a
force and take hiiu prisoner. No further actiou seems to have bcou taken by the Persians.
There are no British Indian traders there. I he port is the contrc of the gun and slave trade:
slaves being brought here from all parts of tho country. No doubt the headmen get a percen­
tage of the proceeds.
Kartcan District.—The headmen drawing presents arc Mirs Alac, Dost, Gool Mohamed,
Shahsowar and Esa Shcrkhan, who are jointly responsible for the safety of the line and
Government servants. These headmen took upon themselves to protect tho line in the Ballak
and Bandeni districts, but I am afraid have undertaken more than they can perform. The
country appears to be quiet. The ports are Galag, Rapch and Sadcch. Slaves in large
numbers are brought to these ports from Uiuth Gaih and latterly frow Bashkard, guns are
also imported.
Jask District.—Under the joint control of Mirs Mustapha Khan and Hotee, * Mustapha
Khan’s younger brother, Barkat takes an active part in the management. The taxe3 used to
bo paid to the Governor of Bushiro, but since tbo introduction of the customs, they pay no
taxes. In this respect they are better off than the Bahu and Dashtyari Chiefs. The slave
trade is increasing yearly. Barkat informs me that during the past three years about 450
slaves have been shipped from here to the Arabian Coast. He says he has now stopped this
traffic by killing tho ringleader, one Shai bin Shabau, his reason being that Shai captured two
Bashkardis in his district which he objected to. The real reason, however, is Shai discontinued
bringing in slaves to Jask and took them instead to Sadech where they fetched a higher
price. Barkat would only allow Shai to sell the slave* brought in to a few chosen men with
whom he had an agreement that half the profits derived from tho sale were to be paid him.
All the Martini-Henry rifles in possession of Shai were supplied him by Barkat. Barkat wrote
to Shai to come in to make some other arrangements about slaves. Shai sent him in 19 slaves
and came in shortly after. He was well received and entertained, but during the night was
treacherously attacked, 14 men being killed. Shai himself efcapcd to Jagin; Barkat attacked
him there and killed him and about 25 of his follower* and captured 27 men, women aud
children with all their property, money and arms. These have all been sold by Barkat who
retains as his share about 4,000 dollars. This appears to be a large 6um of money, but con­
sidering he sold 49 slaves at an average of 150 dollars each, I do not think tho nmount has
been much exaggerated. There are still eleven of Shai's followers at large and these men may
give trouble later on. I hear Barkat is in communication with another Bashkardi named
Hoosein to bring in slaves, I cannot vou-ih for this, but will know in the course of a month
or so if there is any truth in the report. There is another gang of nine men at Gabreeg
under the protection of Mir Noor Mohammed, a brother of Mustapha Khan, who bring in
slaves from Bashkard.
5. The reason there is such a demand for slaves from these parts is that the trade from
the African Coast has been effectually stopped and Baluchistan is the only place now open to
them.
6. The rainfall this year lias been very good and there should be no scarcity in the
country, the date crop also promises to be very good.
• ilir Ali, Mir father died in 1900. (tfxt. A. Jaly 1900 No. 21).