Page 506 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911_Neat

12 ADMINISTRATION RErORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
first half of the year, Ahmed Khan, Amir Panj, Deputy Governor and Com­
mandant of the Persian Regiment at Bushire acting as Governor during his
absence. The Amir Panj, though not an over-strong administrator, is above
the average of local Persian ofhcials in intelligence and education, and speaks
excellent English. He, however, appears to have fallen out with the Darya
Be<d after the latter’s return from Bandar Abbas, and was dismissed by His
Excellency from the post of Deputy Governor, this appointment then being
held at different periods by Shaikh Naser Chahkutai, Shuja-el-Mamalek
(Commandant of Topchis) and Mirza Abdul Reza, the son of one of the Malek-
ut-Tujjar’s slaves, all of whom were equally incompetent. The Amir Panj,
with the permission of the Tehran authorities, left Bushire during the middle
of August for Ispahan, taking his detachment with him.
Karguzar.—Mirza Ghulara Ali Khan, Saad-cs-Sultan, held the post of
Foreign Office Agent throughout the year. He is believed to have been origin­
ally appointed at the request of the German Consulate. His attitude towards
the Residency, however, has been friendly, though perhaps characterised by
excessive caution and timidity in dealing with British cases. He is, however,
an inoffensive official without any apparent tendency to intrigue.
Kalantar and Kadkhoda.—The direct responsibility for the maintenance
of good order in the Bushire Peninsula is entrusted to two officials, the Kalan­
tar and the Kadkhoda. The former is responsible for the safety of Bushire
town, the latter for that of the suburbs of Bushire. The post of Kalantar
was held throughout the year by Mesliedi Abdul Rasul regarding whose hostile
attitude towards the Residency, complaint had several times to be made to the
local authorities.
The appointment of Kadkhoda was held for a like period by Zair Ali
Tangistani, except for a short interval, in July, when His Excellency the
Darya Begi re-instated Kaid Muhammad Jaffer, a former Kadkhoda. This
appointment was objected to by the Tangistani supporters of Zair Ali who
feared less lucrative results from their smuggling operations from Tangistan
into Euskire, and Kis Excellency was eventually compelled to give way and re­
appoint the Tangistani nominee. In the event of refusal to comply with the
Tangistani demands the Darya Begi would in all probability have had to face
an invasion similar to that of 1$09 which, without troops or funds, it would
have been impossible for His Excellency to prevent. The incident is typical
of the impotence to which the administration of the Gulf Ports has been re­
duced under the present regime.
Mamoor-i-Maliyeh and Rais-i-Nazmieh.—Two new posts of the “ Con­
stitutional ” order were created this year by the Central Gos^ernment. On the
18th October an official entitled the Mamoor-i-Maliyeh made his appearance
for the first time in Bushire. He was appointed by the Minister of Finance
apparently to act as Finance Secretary and collect revenue. Needless to say
it has not been possible for him to perform the latter duty. The incumbent of
the appointment is one Mahmood Khan, formerly an interpreter in the Im­
perial Bank of Persia, Shiraz, from which post he was dismissed. He con­
tinued in office throughout the year.
The other official appointed was the Rais-i-Nazmich or Chief of Police,
one Abdullah Khan, Etczad-i-Hazret, by name. He arrived in Bushire on
the 19th December. His activities were limited to wrangles with the Gover­
nor and the Kalantar regarding the financing of his Department, both of the
above-named officials declaring their complete inability to provide him with
funds.
The Central Government also announced the despatch of two other offi­
cials from Tehran, namely, an Inspector of Justice and an Inspector of the
Municipality. Neither officials, however, arrived in Busbire during the year.
At present all four of these officials are a useless charge upon the revenue.
Monsieur Leleux held the post of Provincial Director of Customs at
Bushire from the beginning of the year
. . till the 12th May when he went on leave
oemg relieved by Monsieur Constant, Director of Customs at Bandar Abbas,