Page 15 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

RESIDENCY AND MTJ8CAT POLITICAL AGENCY POR 1800-91. 9

His Excellency the Saad-ul-Mulk continued in office as Governor of
Bushire and the Persian ports and islands. Shahzada Nowzer Mirza was
appointed Governor of Behbahan.
Muhammad Hasan Khan 8irteep continued to be Governor of Dashti,
DashtiBtan, and Tangistan, and no changes were made in the charge of Kankari,
Bowanat, and Kazeran.
The Il-Begi of the Kasbkai tribes was conferred on Abdulla Khan, eldest
son of Darab Khan, who was detained at Shiraz. A number of families of the
Baharloo clan, whose Chief, Hussain Khan, was for some time imprisoned at
Shiraz, but afterwards escaped, were reported to have fled to Mazanderan to
escape the exactions of the Kawam-ul-Mulk. This example was followed by
Asad-ullah-Khan, one of the Ketkodas of the Arab tribes, who, with his
following, retired to Yezd.
The sons of Fath Ali Khan, Deputy Governor of Lar, rebelled against their
father, and seized the forts of Jerash and Parweeza, but after some resistance
surrendered to him.
In April, last year, an embargo was placed on the exportation of grain,
but, these crops having proved to be good, the interdict was shortly afterwards
removed.
The opium crops in Pars were poor this year; locusts also appeared in vari­
ous places and did considerable damage. There were several severe shocks of
earthquake, and atJahrum some thirty lives were lost. Kamarij, Khishfc, and
Fasa were also visited by several shocks, but no great damage was done.
In November Captain Kmentt, of the Austrian Army, with two Austrian
assistants and four workmen from Galicia, arrived to prospect for petroleum at
Daltki, in the Geesakun hills, on behalf of the Persian Bank Mining Rights
Corporation. So far the experiment has not been successful; indications of oil
have been found, but not in any quantity, while the workings have been flooded
with water.
&.—PERSIAN BALUCHISTAN.
Zein-ul-Abidin Khan was appointed Governor of Baluchistan by His
Royal Highness the Prince Governor of Kerman.
In the spring of this year His Royal Highness marched into the lately
disturbed districts of Persian Baluchistan, and punished the ring-leaders in the
revolt which had occurred during the absence of His Majesty the Shah in England.
Several were executed and others imprisoned; their relations, with a number of
followers, afterwards came to Jask, and a disturbance seemed possible; but they
were quieted by a re-assuring telegram from the Persian Government.
. Hussein Khan Baharloo, on his escape from Shiraz, fled to Kerman, and,
on his request for pardon being refused, joined another political refugee, Shah
Murad Khan, at the fort of Mazeejan. He was afterwards captured and brought
back to Shiraz. Murad AsaduUah Khan Arab lost two sons in a raid on certain
villages in the district of Iassn, whereupon he seized and executed a number
of the headmen and marched on Kerman, accompanied by some eight hundred
Arab families. He was, however, induced to return to Darab without having
caused any serious disturbance.
9.—SLAVE TRAFFIC.
The traffic in raw slaves mentioned in last year's report continued in un­
abated vigour, and numerous importations into the Persian and Arabian ports
are believed to have taken place. A circular letter was addressed to the truoi-
al Chiefs, reminding them of their engagement in this respect; as usual, toe
Beni Jabar and other Bedouin tribes on the Batineh coast were the principal
a