Page 66 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

10 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

Muhnmmed bin Abdullah bin Hasan was appointed the first Turkish Con.
solar Agent at lingah.
No changes of importance took place among the minor Governors of
districts.
In May 1891 the Il-Khani was placed in charge of the Kashkais, Darab
Khan, the former Il-Begi, dying the following month. The Il-Khani did not
long Burvive him, and died in January last; the headship has since been con­
ferred on Nasr-ullah Khan. It was sapposed that the Government in.
tended dividing the tribe into four sections and appointing a Ketkhoda for each,
but this has not been done. Husein Khan Babarloo having escaped from the
fort of Jerash whence he was imprisoned, began raiding the villages of Darab
and Fasa, many robberies being also committed near Shiraz by men of the
Babarloo tribe. A force was 6ent against him from Shiraz, and a portion of It
deserted to him, but he was eventually captured and taken to Shiraz, where he
still ia.
In December 1891 a disturbance took place on board the British India
Steam Navigation Company’s S.S. Kilwo from Bnsliire to Lingah, some Arab
syces attacking the officers of the ship. She fortunately overtook H.M.8.
Redbreast, whose commander sent an armed party on board and removed the
ringleaders who were afterwards tried at Bombay and punished.
. In January 1891 a bugalow owned by British ‘Indian subjects anchored
near Kishm, the greater portion of the crew going ashore. During their
absence $528 and $1,070 were stolen. The Persian authorities on receipt of a
complaint suspected the Arab crew of a boat belonging to Hanriyeh on the
pirate coast. They were arrested and sent to Bushire. After some delay the
case was referred to the Shara Court at Lingah which acquitted the prisoners,
so they were releasod and their property was returned to them. It was after-
weds asserted, apparently not without reason, that some of the crew of the
bugalow were the thieves.
In spite of an excellent harvest in the plain country the export of grain,
from Pars and ite ports was prohibited in June last, but all contracts entered
into before the passing of the order were allowed to be carried out.
An attempt was made by the customs fanner to levy ground rent on goods
detained more than fifteen days in the custom-house, but it met with strenuous
opposition from the merchants of Shiraz, and had to be abandoned.
The prohibition against the importation of arms and ammunition into
Persian territory was reiterated in July last, a large *trade in rifles for sale in the
interior having been apparently discovered by the Persian Government.
The native merchants at Shiraz started an opposition to the Imperial Bank
of Persia, but without any prejudicial effect on the Bank.
Strong opposition having been manifested in various quarters, chiefly by
the Mollaha, to the tobacco concession, it was withdrawn by the Persian Gov­
ernment in December 1S91-.
In consequence of reports of cholera at Mecca, quarantine was imposed on
arrivals from the Hedjaz and Yemen. A quarantine station was established,
and cargo from Jedda was fumigated. Fortunately the epidemic did not visit
Bushire.
Influenza and small-pox were very prevalent in the island of Kishm, and
many deaths occurred.
The*
Locusts have appeared in large numbers in Kirman and other parts. ^
crops in the plain districts have been very poor, and the price of grain has risen;
it will probably do so much more, and the general outlook is gloomy.