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176. There was also an attempt to compete with the Shuahan on tho Upper
Karun by attracting trafiic to tho Susa, which towed barges for carrying cargo.
176. As another instance of tho niggardly spirit displayed by the Persians
towards tho British in respect of tho trafiic on the Upper Karun, the benefit of
which was after all to revert to the Persian Government, tho following may
be mentioned.
176. In May 1892 tho Shushan was takon down to Basrah for ropairs,
and on her return she was unable to re-cross
Gulf Adraluietretion Report, 1893*93.
the rapids owing to lowness of the river
until December 1892. Tho Persian Government was asked to pormit the use of
a launch and barge on the Upper Karun so as to keep up communication with
8huster until the Shushan could be taken over the Ahwaz rapids, but, it
was feared by the Persian Government, this would bo a violation of the
regulations for the navigation of the Karun, and tho request was refused.
Trade on the Upper Karun was therefore monopolized by the Nasseri Company,
which took advantage of tho opportunity to raise its rates of freight.
(vii.)—Embargo on grain.
177. One other means tho Persians found for starving the British enter­
prise, or at any rate an obstaclo which stood in the way of its success, though
not always purposely thrown in its way, was the embargo frequently laid by the
Persian authorities on the export of cereals, the principal product of Arabistan.
178. Soon after tho Karun river was opened, an order was passed prohi­
biting the export of wheat from the country lying about the Lower Karun.
This was soon extended to the Upper Karun : the pretext was that there was
scarcity in the country. Even if this was a fact, the people at large benefitted
little from the storing of the grain in the country. The Persian officials, who are
known to be adepts in engineering corners in grain, have never found any
difficulty to use their powers to buy and sell at their own rates.
179. In 1893-9-1 the crops on the
Gulf Adminiitrotion Report, 1693*34.
Karun were good, yet the export of grain
was prohibited.
180. Notwithstanding that the harvest was favourable, export of grain
was prohibited in the middle of the year
Golf Adminiitrotion Report for 1895*96.
1895. The notice given of the enforce­
ment of this vexatious prohibition was too short for the reasonable require­
ments of trade operations, the local conditions necessitating arrangements
considerably in advance, for the purchase and transport of grain, tho securing
of freight and other matters. An extension of it was therefore, though with
some difficulty, obtained.
The proceedings in connection with this obnoxious measure were uncertain
and irregular and were so devised as to entail the maximum of restriction on
straightforward foreign trade while failing in an effective realisation of the
ostensible object, the retention of the grain in the country. It was evaded by
the conveyance in native craft of grain to Basrah, whence it could readily be
exported; the transit overland from tho Howizah district to the river at
Basrah was opeu, and shipment from the port of Mashur which taps the Bam
Hormuz district was unrestrained. The sale of their produce to the best
advantage by tho people on the Lower Karun was, however, no doubt to some
extent prevented, and the Sheikh of Mohammerah and the Arabs under him
complained of the difficulty of meeting their taxes.
181. Complete uncertainty prevailed as to tho probable duration of the
embargo, the indication being that it w*as governed by arbitrary and interested
consideration, and after a while indeed that its relaxation would depend on
pecuniary arrangements with the authorities. Foreign merchants accordingly
continued their purchase of wheat in the district; but this obviously would
not suit the projects for forcing the merchants into a permanent arrangement
pecuniarily advantageous to those interested, and purohases as well as the
collection of purchased stocks and their removal for storage were prohibited.
In January 1896 there was an open though still quite irregular relaxation,
the Governor-General permitting the export of certain stocks, at the same
moment that the Central Government propose to admit it, on condition that