Page 152 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

48 administration report of the tkrsian

In connection with the looting of the caravan with which three Bowara of tho
Kerman Consular escort were travelling in March 1906, it is satisfactory to note
that as the result, of continuous pressure, the local authorities at the end of
December, paid the full amount of compensation demanded by the Consulate.
Illegal Taxes.—In spite of the fact that Article 3 of the Persian Customs Regu­
lations expressly lays down that such taxes as ‘ Dalali,’4 Kapandari,’ ‘ Sar-i-Rig’ or
4 Maidani ’ and 4 Pierage, ’ are illegal, all had remained in force with the knowledge
of the Persian Government and had been included in the schedule of items of
revenue to be collected by the Governor of the Gulf Ports. Repeated representa­
tions by the Residency however at length achieved the desired result, and at the
end of July HiB Excellency the Darya Begi issued orders for the suspension of all
the above imposts with the exception of 4 Pierage ’ which continued to be levied
until the beginning of January, w hen in response to further protests bv the Resi­
dency, it also was discontinued. Thus all those illegal demanda which have in the
past undoubtedly exercised a check on the expansion of trade, have now ceased to
exist in Bunder Abbas itself. The tax 4 Ralidari1 has not been included among
those enumerated above, as it is not levied within the jurisdiction of Bunder Abbas,
but at Ahmedi, Pur Rahdar, and Gharah, all within the Fare administration!
Seeing, however, that these places are situated upon the principal caravan routes
bifurcating from Bunder Abbas the levy of the tax constitutes a hindrance to the
trading interests of the town and the Residency has spared no effort to move the
Central Government through His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran, to secure the
suspension of the tax. but notwithstanding repeated assurances to the Minister
that orders for its discontinuance had issued, it continues to be levied with im­
punity and there would seem to be no immediate prospect of its abolishment.
Local enterprises.—In virtue of the concession obtained from the Persian Gov­
ernment by the Sponge Exploration Syndi­
Visit of U. Hatinoglou.
cate, Mons. Hatinoglou arrived from
Bushire on the 16th June. He was joined a few days later by seven Greeks who had
arrived from Europe with the diving dresses and apparatus necessary for submarine
exploration. Research work in the neighbourhood of Hormuz and Kishm Islands,
winch was carried out early in July, was said to have yielded disappointing
results, and M. Hatinoglou and party left for Lingah on the 20th July.
The Moin-ut-Tujar has from time to time made spasmodic efforts to turn
to advantage the mineral resources of the
Visit of Mr. Hamilton Gunn.
islands farmed by him and in furtherance of
his latest scheme to work the numerous sulphur deposits in the neighbourhood and
after smelting the ore to export pure block sulphur. Mr. H. Hamilton Gunn, a mining
engineer whose services had been secuied by Messrs. Eilinger, the Manchester
agents of the Moin. arrived from Europe on the oth January. He devoted his whole
attention to the. sulphur quarry on the Kishm Island, situated 12 miles east of
Bassidu and 8 miies inland from Doolab. As the result of Mr. Gunn’s research
works he has informed the Moin that the sulphur deposit is of considerable commer­
cial value, extending as it does for more than i mile and to a depth of some 50 feet
while the ore is estimated to contain 70 per cent, of sulphur. In these circum­
stances he has advised the Moin to bring out machinery for calcining the ore and
to secure the services of experienced workmen from Sicily. Mr. Gunn is undoubted­
ly an able man, but the value of his work is considerably discounted by the fact that
he is invariably intoxicated and has several times reduced himself to the verge of
delirium tremens. In spite of the fact that his agreement enjoined strict secrecy
regarding the results of his investigations, Mr. Gunn has freely imparted his
information to any and all with whom he has comeSin contact. Taking advan­
tage of Mr. Gunn’s temporary absence from the quarry, His Majesty 8 Consul
landed at Doolab and proceeded to the spot early in March- The coun ry
between the coast and the quarry is of the wildest description and in order
prepare a road for the transport of the sulphur, considerable expense woul<?
involved. Some 20 or 30 coolies were working at the quarry and large quan l
of ore had been excavated, but work has been carried on under considera
difficulties as there is no fresh water within 5 miles and all attempts to find it
by stoking wells have failed. In view of these difficulties and of the Persian s
proverbial disinclination to carry a work to a successful issue, it is very
be doubted whether the Moin will really proceed with the enterprise.