Page 626 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911_Neat

20 ADMINISTRATION RErORT OK THE PERSIAN GULF
In September, tbc firm rented large additional premises in a good situa­
tion fronting the crock, from the heirs of the late Ilaji Muhammad Shcfii.
They also renewed, for a period of three years, their lease of the property of
the Residency Dragoman at a higher rental, but the well-situated wharfage
6pace in front of the building, lying next to the Customs premises, was this
tune excluded by the owners from the agreement. Several other warehouses
facing the creek were rented, and a very large staff employed in buying and
cleaning grain.
At the end of the year the German firm announced that they had made
very large profits from their Gulf business during 1911, the sum of £50,000
being mentioned (though probably greatly exaggerated!; substantial bonuses
were distributed to all Persian employes at Busnire, wneat brokers, cleaners,
etc.
In conversation, Herr Eisenhut has said that 1911 was an excellent year
for them, coming after three bad years. The freight rebates by the subsidised
line must have largely contributed to this.
In January and February the firm were still being hampered at Bushire
with the situation created by their shady Persian employes, Haji Muhammad
Hasan and Hirza Husain, ex-Munshi of the German Consulate. The former
had fled to Tangistan to escape debts to German and British firms, and a
charge of having made away with a sum in coin shipped in native craft for
the purpose of buying grain; he was eventually induced to return, however,
by Herr Krumpeter, apparently on a promise of being whitewashed. By;
thus dropping the charge of misappropriation and “ finding ” that the money-
bags ha d fallen overboard, the firm were able to recover the value from the
Insurance Company, and at the same time to save themselves from parting
with a valuable henchman. Haji Muhammad on his return apparently
exposed ex-Munshi Mirza Husain, for a few days afterwards Herr Krum­
peter proceeded to force an entry into the latter's house for the purpose of
seizing certain documents, and was somewhat roughly handled by Mirza
Husain’s adherents. Mirza Husain himcelf took sanctuary with a local
Mullah, and claims against him concerning his dealings in arms were subse­
quently lodged by the German firm.
The firm was represented at Bushire from February to the end of the
year by Herr Eisenhut, who succeeded Herr Krumpeter, who went on leave.
In August Herr Sandri from Bahrain arrived to assist Herr Eisenhut.
An incident occurred, in September, over a coolie, who had taken ad­
vances from both British a<nd German Shipping Companies in the course of
which a Farrash of the Residency laid hands on the coolie on the open wharf
in front of the German firm's office.
The German Consul took up a very blustering attitude vis-a-vis the
Residency, claiming violation of domicile and demanding condign punish­
ment of the Farrash, on the ground that the wharf was included in the Ger­
man firm’s lease from the Residency Dragoman. On the contrary being
proved, he resorted \o the argument tliat in the scuffle the Farrash and coolie
had even touched the walls of the German office. The Farrash concerned
was unfortunately murdered a few days later by a private acquaintance who
picked a quarrel with him, and correspondence with the German Consulate
thus came to an end.
Fifty slaves who had taken refuge
Slave Trade.
respectively at Lingah (22), Shargah (4)
and Bahrain (24) were manumitted during the year.
The results of the daily observations
Meteorological Observatory.
at Bushire are recorded in Tabular
Statements Nos. I and II attached.
The Resident paid a visit to Mohammerah and the Shatt-el-Arab, in
February, and took occasion to meet two
Toon.
of the Directors of the Anglo-Persiaa
Oil Company who arrived during the month from London on a tour of inspec­
tion.