Page 124 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

14 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
such a line ■would have been very convenient both to the Persian Government
and to the Residency in supplying early news of what was happening.
The customs question at Bander Abbas and Meshed referred to in la8t
year's report has been finally settled on the basis that the treaty rate of 6 per
cent, should be paid on both imports and exports, and no dues be levied in the
interior.
10.—PERSIAN BALUCHISTAN.
Owing to a blood-feud Sardar Wali Muhammad Khan’s followers besieged
twelve Dashtiyari families in the Parak fort, the first telegraph line guard’s
station from Jask, and stopped their water supply. The besieged after losing a
child by thirst surrendered, and the feud was terminated by their giving a man
to their enemies.
Mir Abdul Nabi, the farmer of the district about Jask, was reported to have
overtaxed the people, and to have been opposed at Sireg by Mir Haji, son of
Mir Yusuf of Biyaban. Subsequently Mir All Khan collected troops to march
on Biyaban, the people of which bad refused to pay the taxes he imposed upon
them; nothing further, however, seems to have resulted from this dispute.
Mir Kaji was afterwards appointed Governor of Biyaban.
In September last complaints against Mir Abdul Nabi were received from
him and from Mir Kamhar, who had been placed in charge of the district
between Kliu-i-Uubank and Chileak, that he was stirring up people against
them and preventing the collection of revenue. Both parties were warned
against creating disturbances.
After a long correspondence with the local Persian authorities regarding
the abduction of two women, mother and sister of the lineman of the Tele­
graph Department at Jask, the case was referred to Her Majesty's Minister,
Tehran, and orders have been issued b„. the Persian Government for their
release and return to Jask.
There was a serious outbreak of small-pox at Gwadur in March, April, and
May 1892. Every effort was made to induce the friends of those attacked to
allow their isolation but without success; the Hindu and Khoja merchants
refusing to permit their removal to hospital.
In October it was reported by the ‘Wali of Gwauur that the Rinds de­
manded the surrender of seventy slaves who bad absconded to Gwadur, and threat­
ened in case of refusal to create a disturbance. The TTali was informed that
the surrender of the slaves would be contrary to the orders of the Govern­
ment. The Political Agent, Southern Baluchistan, was also communicated
with, and a warning was conveyed by him to the Rinds. They have lately
renewed their demands and as a precaution the Sultan of Muscat has strength­
ened liis garrison at Gwadur by twenty men. The matter is receiving attention.
Some cases of black-mailing caravans by the Rinds of Mand have been
brought to notice, but none of importance.
A troublesome case of cattle theft occurred at Gwadur in which eight head
of cattle, the property of Government servants at Gwadur, were stolen with the
connivance of the headman of the Nagore district. After a long investigation
the Sultan of Muscat eventually agreed to pay the value of the cattle, recover
ing it afterwards from those concerned in the theft.
Sirtip Zain-ul-Abadin Khan was Governor of Bampur during the year.
Mir Abdullah, cousin of Sardar Muhammad Ali Khan, Governor of Kowtob,
having been murdered by the Hots of Bahu Kalat, the Sirtip and Sardar
surrendered Bahu in October last. The dispute was settled by the Hots pay1®*
115,000 and giving a marriageable girl, and exchanging the fort of a
for one at Ohaker.