Page 139 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1000-1007. 30
],c was finally reinstated in February with retrospective effect from the 1st of
November.
55. The Germans.—In connection with the establishment of the Hamburg-
Amcrica Line in the Gulf, Mr. terMculcn was appointed their Agent at Ahwazby
the Company. Having fallen out however with the Agent at Basra, Wonckhaus,
the agency was taken from him and given to Ilaji Rais (or his son, the Mushir ud
Tujjar).
50. Foreign Visitors.—There have been no foreign visitors of interest. In­
deed beyond the Frenchmen of the Mission Scientifique, who this year did not
include M. de Morgan, only one visitor, a young Frenchman, M. Bouchon, fresh
from the Ecole Polytcclinique, made his appearance. He is the son of a big French
Sugar Manufacturer. He only stayed one night.

FOREIGN AND PERSIAN BUSINESS CONCERNS.
57. Mr. ter Meulcn.—Mr. Gratama, the young Dutchman who spent the cold
weather of 1905-06 with ter Meulen, has since been engaged in endeavouring to ob­
tain capital in Holland for a Company.
In the beginning of 1907 Mr. ten Meulen announced that he had been success­
ful and that he would be starting to join him in February. Subsequently however
a delay intervened owing to Mr. Gratama’s going to Manchester to approa<h cer­
tain firms there. He is now expected in Ahwaz early in May. He is a level-head­
ed gentlemanly man, and may have some moderating influence on Mr. ter Meulen’s
eccentricities. As these on occasion amount to madness, it is unlikely that the
partnership will survive long unless Mr. Gratama’s counsels in the business become
paramount.
Mr. ter Meulen has lately obtained permission to have a private warehouse
under the charge of the Customs. The terms as regards rent and fees for
opening it, etc., are severe, and it is difficult to see that be will benefit by it.
He has also obtained a site for a private wharf, but what purposes this will
serve are enigmatical. The S. S. Malamir at any rate will not visit it.
His young unpaid assistant. Mr. Van Buuren, is still here, but is on the worst
possible terms with him, and will probably leave on Mr. Gratama’s arrival, if not
earlier.
RAZUKI.
Razuki, an Armenian Agent of Messrs. Asfarand Company of Basra, came to
Ahwaz in the beginning of the summer of 1906. He was entrusted with £20,000
capital which he has thrown about in the most reckless way. His operations at
once sent up the rates of labour and rents, already too high, and he entirely ruined
the wheat trade which in view of an excellent harvest should have been very profit­
able. He was very rash in granting advances, much of which he has not recovered.
He refused to come to any agreement with other buyers as to price, so Messrs.
Lynch Brothers eventually raised the rates still further by way of retaliation,
which they were able to do as they were little involved.
Razuki also lost immense quantities of wheat by failing to make provision
for protecting it from rain. He has however feathered his own nest and drives
about in state on the desert in a carriage—the summit of local ambition attained
only by one other individual
59. The Muin ut Tujjar.—The principal of the Muin’s schemes projected in
the beginning of 1906 which has borne fruit is that of placing a steamer on the
lower Karon.
This made its appearance in July. It did well at first, but is not now very
popular. The Agent at Ahwaz is a respectable Persian, Muhammad Baqir, who
used to be registered at Bushire as a British subject.
The working of the ship is at times interfered with by the Shaikh, who considers
that he has a prescriptive right to requisition it for his own use when he feels so
disposed. The ship is not properly looked after and being unprovided with conden-
Bera the boiler ought soon to become clogged up by the deposit of the mud of which
the river water is full.
60. The Muin also early in 1907 completed a large store room at Shalailivah
the port of Shushter on the Gargar. J 9
3147 F. D.
T 2