Page 123 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 190ft. 1007. 21
iion of 1882 for the suppression of traffic in slaves. Among the upper classes in
Shiraz the possession of a number of slaves chiefly for the service of the “ anderoon *'
is as much a mark of good taste as it was in Rome in the age of the Antonines.
Since 1903 when Mr. Grahamc took up the appointment of Consul at Shiraz
the local authorities have exerted the utmost ingenuity to evade carrying out the
stipulations of the Convention. Strong pressure locally and frequent reference
to His Majesty’s Minister have been necessary.
During the year under review seven letters of manumission were issued by the
Fare authorities at the request of His Majesty’s Consul in favour of slaves who had
taken refuge in the Residency. All of the slaves thus manumitted had been
imported from overseas subsequent to 1882 and were claimed as property of
Persian mastere.
TOURS.
In consequence of the very unsatisfactory condition of the Shiraz-Bushire road
and of the numerous complaints against the road-guards, Mr. Grahame requested
and obtained sanction to make a tour of inspection on that road.
Leaving Shiraz on 29th April he was absent till 3rd June. In a report subse­
quently submitted to His Majesty’s Minister the defects of the present arrange­
ments for the maintenance of security on this road were set forth and certain pro­
posals for the patrolling of the road by Native Indian Cavalry were submitted for
the consideration oi His Majesty’s Government.
Under special instructions Mr. Grahame returned to Shiraz by the Firouzabad
route. Bushire was left on the afternoon on 23rd May ; Shiraz was reached on the
morning oi 3rd J line.
The route with the exception of the portion between Ahram and Tang-i-zard,
was highly satisfactory.
A derailed report was subsequently furnished tending to establish the superi­
ority of this route over the Kazeroon road, and to show that of the two
objections generally urged against it by muleteers and others, viz., lack of water and
insecurity, the iatoer only is to a certain extent well-grounded.
Travelling with his Consular escort, Mr. Grahame experienced no difficulties,
but the country traversed between Ahram and Firouzabad was in a lawless condi­
tion, every man’s hand being apparently against his neighbour, and the villagers as
a rule not venturing outside their own immediate stretch of land.

FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE&
Since November 1905 France has been represented at Shiraz by a Consular
Agent, Haji Mirza Hussein, a Persian subject. No other Foreign Power is perma­
nently represented.
During four months of the summer of 1906 Mr. Andre Miller, Acting Russian
Consul General at Bushire, accompanied by M. Boris Miller, Dragoman to that
Consulate, and by Dr. Bussiere, Medical Officer to the Persian Customs Administra­
tion, was in residence at Shiraz.
Mr. Grahame held the post of His Majesty’s Consul throughout the year tinder
review.
GEORGE GRAHAME,
Bis Britannic Majesty's Consul, Shiraz.

P. Z. COX, Major,
Officiating Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.