Page 155 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY TOR 1906-1WW- 61
bo long as he abstains from doing so, there is perhaps but slight cause for apprehend­
ing trouble. His Majesty’s Consul visited the Arab village in March and found
that while the people view the presence of the Customs Mudir within British limits
with contempt, they express the determination to resist any attempt to impose
Customs dues or Persian sovereignty on the inhabitants of the Island generally.
Tours.—Owing to the complications regarding the establishment of the Bunder
Abbas Telegraph office.no tours were undertaken during the earlier months of the
year. In September His Majesty’s Consul paid a visit to Yasin, 12 miles north of
Bunder Abbas, and in October the stone quarries of Hormuz were inspected in order
to discover a suitable one from which to bring stone for the new Consulate building.
On the 11th December, His Majesty’s Consul left by Consulate boat for Lingah,
Bassidu and other places on the Clarence Straits being visited en route. On the
31st January, the Consul left for Minab and afterwards visited Shamil and Kush-
Kuh, the mountain at the latter place being ascended with a view to the possible
discovery of a suitable hot weather camping ground. On the return journey, visits
were paid to the numerous hamlets in the Shamilat. In March, Henjam was
visited and afterwards Doolab on the Clarence Straits, whence a hasty visit to
the sulphur quarry in process of exploration by the Moin-ut-Tujar was made.
His Majesty’s ships Sphinx and Lapwing visited the port at various times
and His Majesty’s cruiser Highflyer arrived on the 21st March leaving again on the
following day. The Highflyer, Proserpine. Sphinx and Lapwing have all visited
Henjam. the two latter making prolonged staj-s there from time to time.
The R. I. M. S. Lawrence called on numerous occasions and the Political Resi­
dent landed from her on the 14th November leaving again the same day.
No foreign mcn-of-war visited the port during the year.
Russian Consulate.—Monsieur G. Owseenko has retained charge of the Russian
Consulate throughout the year. During the past six months the personnel of the
Consulate lias been considerably augmented and extraordinary activity has been
manifested in the collection of news of every description. The Consulate buildings
have been enlarged and further additions avid improvements are in progress. There
is no doubt, that the Consulate is most .advantageously situated for watching the
trend of local events, and from this point of view, it is matter for regret that a site
for the new British Consulate was not selected within the town.
Monsieur Dimitry Beiayew arrived warn Kerman on the 1st August. 1906 and
has remained here as Assistant to the. Russian Consul; he does not reside in -the
Consulate itself, but occupies a house on the outskirts of the bazaar.
The Sidad-cs-Sulteneh. formerly Russian Consular Agent at Bunder Abbas*
was despatched to I.ingah in the same capacity on the 1st January 1907, btft mo-
turned to Bunder Abbas on the 22nd March.
In addition to M. Belayew and the Sadid-es-Sultaneh, the Russian Gsnsaofl
has on his staff no less than four capable munshis, among them being one Mkxn
Abul Kasim, who was formerly in the service of the Residency at Bushire, but who
was dismissed for misconduct.
Numerous spies, derived from the scum of the local bazaar, are also retained
for the purpose of collecting news.
Official Changes. —Lieutenant W. EL L Shakespear, I.A., was Assistant
dent and His Britannic Majesty’s Consol up to the 23rd July 1906, when hr
for Maskat after handing over charge to lieutenant C. H. Gabriel, LA.
Temperature Records.—The results of the daily observations are reoor&ad jxn
the attached tabular statement.
G. H. GABRIEL, Lwt,
Assistant Beside* and His Britannic Majesty's
Consul, Bunder Abbas.