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317. In support of a remark that a misapprehension existed in the matter,
Captain Pridcaux brought to notice an instance iu which a question regarding
tlio importation of arras into Gwadur was
“ submitted dirocl to Government isstcad of through the usual channel of tho Political
Apjont at Muscat, or tho llcaiilonli in tho Persian Gulf." “I have also/* says Captain Pridcaux,
“hoard from pr'vato sources that the Assistant Political A'jjont has iccontly proccoded to Jnuk
to investigate a case of phoning whioh is said to huvo occurred in the Tolcgraph Department
at that station. Ja^k belongs to Persia, and being consi'lenibly fc<> tho westward of Gwndur,
is both for political and othor purposes within tho jurisdiction of this Residency. Although
tho Assistant Political Agent may have lieon tho olliccr who could most conveniently investi­
gate any criminal case occurring at Jask, I would submit that ho should only do so under
deputati -n from Bushire, or if tho matter were urgent, after officially communicating his
intentions to tho Residency. It might lead to complications with the Persian authorities if
two officers wore to exercise jurisdiction in Persian Mokran independently of each other, aud it
was for this reason that Lieutonnut-Coloncl Ross rccommonded that if the Assistant Political
Aqent were transferred to any luealiti/ in Persian territory, he should be appointed an ex-officio
Assistant to the Resident in the Gulf.
318. The reasons for this recommendation were obvious ; and by the orders,
No. 1249-P., dated 30th May 1877, the Assistant’Political Agont at Gwadur
bocamo thenceforth Assi'-tant to the Resident, Persian Gulf, fo'' the country
between Jask and Qioudur, as well as Assistant to the Political Agent, Maskat,
for Gwadur affairs, and Assis'ant to the Agent to the Governor-General, Balu­
chistan, for the Mekran possessions of the Khan of Kbclat. Mnjor Mookler
was about this time appointed to Gwadur. It may he observed that, under the
orders cited above, the connection betweeu tho Assistant Political Agent as
Gwadur and the Commissioner in Sind ceased. The pay of the appointment
was fixed at Rs. 1,000 a month exclusive of tray idling allowance, and it was
debited in equal proportions to the Political and Public Works (Telegraph)
Departments. It was added that tho position of the appointment would be
reoonsidered when the arrangement about tho distribution of the charge above
mentioned was reconsidered. In April 1879 Major Mockler took furlough,
and a successor could not at once be found. Thu9 the necessity arose for re­
considering the arrangement just described. Captain E. L. Durand, Eirst
Assistant to the Resident, Persian Gulf, was at this time sent to report on Rind
outrages, and belaid stress on tho unhealthiness of the Gwadur station, where
half the military detachment were suffering from ague. Sir Robert Sandeman,
in bis letter No. 396-P., dated August 4th 1879, considered that “ after the *
settlement of the Rind question, aud the strengthening of the position of the
Khan’s Naib at Kedj, Gwadur might be made over to the Assistant to the
Governor-General’s Agent at Kelat, who should keep a Native Agent stationed
there and visit Kedj and Gwadur as often as possible. He thought that tho
telegraph line could be supervised from Kelat.” Colonel Ross wrote on the
same subject:—“ If there should he a question of the entire abolition of the
Mekran Political Agency, I would express an opinion adverse to that measure.”
But he thought the maiutenance of Gwadur as its head-quarters immaterial.
319 The Government of India, in their letter of 9th September 1879,
No. 23d6-E.P., to the Governor*General’s Agent, Baluchistan, supported the
substitution of an efficient Native Agent at Gwadur for the Europeau Assistant;
but iu further letter of October 9th, 1879, they proposed to invest the European
officer in charge of the Telegraph Department there with such political author­
ity as might suffice for tho disposal of minor political business, instead of
appointing a Native Agent. Finally, however, the Government of India
decided, on March 22nd, 1880, that the Deputy Director of the Mekran Coast
and Persian Gulf Telegraphs, with an allowance of Rs. 150 « month, should
exercise political powers along the coast; and also as proposed by Colonel Ross
that the Native Assistant at Gwadur, on Rs. 40 a month, should be retained,
while the Munshi on Rs. 100 should be dispensed with. The Munslii was
dispensed with on July 19th 18S0, and other reduciions of establishment
amounting to Rs. 172 a montli effected.
Thus matters went on until 18S3, when Colonel Sandeman proposed
to appoint a Politioal Agent at Kelat, an appointment which had remained
vacant since 1879. Part of his salary he proposed to provide by tho
abolition of the allowance of Rs. 150 paid to tho Deputy Director of
Telegraphs for charge of the political duties at Gwadur. Colonel Ross,
on January 2nd, 1884, considered the preseut arrangement both economical
and convenient, and objected to any ebango. But his objections
were received too late for considerations. Colonel Saudeman’s whole scheme
* Aa to the Rind diiturbancee mo Slave Trade Pride, chuptcr V.