Page 158 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

54 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF

they made their headquarters The Dnshtiari tax was promptly paid, but trouble
District’ h * *° ChlufB 0 Baho' dctalls oi which will he found under “Baho

Minor Chiefs and headmen of the sub-districts under Gaih complain even more
bitterly than Inst year of Syed Khan’s exorbitant demands. The recognised annual
tax payable bv each small district has been collected three timeB during the year.
In consequence of this increasing oppression the migration of the poorer Baluchis
to India and to the Arab Coast continues.
It is only necessary to deal with those sub-districts under Gaih which call
for special remarks.
Rarwan is the largest minor district under Gaih. The northern portion is
controlled by Mir Dost and Mir Aiae, both
Kfirwan nub-district
fairly influential men, and the southern
portion by Mir Gool Mahomed, Mir Esa Sher Khan and Mir Rhasowar.
In November 1906, the Persian authorities established a Customs officer,
■with a guard of two men, at the port of Galeg. principally with a view to inter­
cepting arms, but even local natives ignored their presence, and after being greatly
harassed and threatened, they returned to Charbar.
With reference to the mention of Mir Sheroo in last years report as being
Bir sub-dwarict. the son of Mir Syudullah it now appears
that the former Is not the son but the
younger brother of Mir Syudullah. and is about 24 years of age. It was hoped
that Mir Syudullah could be cured of his unfortunate malady, but it seems now
expedient to appoint a new headman, or rather to divide the subsidy between Mir
Sberoo and his uncle Mir Sahib Khan.
The reason of this division of the subsidy is that Sheroo is a headstrong and
rather irresponsible youth, and focal opinion which was divided, showed Sahib Khan
to have the greater influence. Sheroo was inclined to be jealous of his uncle, but
they have been brought together, and they now appear to be friendly and both
perfectly satisfied with their positions. Arrangements have also been made that
Mir Syudullah and his family shall be properly looked after.
An arrangement is understood bo have been made by Captain McConaghey,
.Assistant Political Agent, Mekran, with the
Ann.* Trxfic.
Chiefs of Karwan to assist in putting down
the arms traffic, but there is little doubt that the three chiefs in charge of the coast­
al portion of the Karwan District are perfectly powerless, even collectively, to pre­
vent Afghans from landing arms on the coast. Large numbers of Afghans receive
the consignments on the beach, and are well prepared to resist any local inter­
ference. Local chiefs are also liberaDy bribed and it is not to be supposed that they
would give any but valueless information.
The favourable season is evidently October to the end of March ; but although
no arms were landed in December, January, or February, it is known that con­
signments were waiting in Maskat for shipment, which were delayed partly by
the presence of Hus Majesty’s ships patrolling the coast and also owing to the fact
that the Afghans experienced some difficulty in obtaining native craft to convey
them across. It will be observed that a good many arms are consigned to Sardar
Syed Khan of Gaih, whom we formerly suspected of helping the Afghans, and there
is reason to believe that he has been made a partner in. the undertaking in return for
his assistance.
Every possible endeavour was made by the staff of the Indo-European Tele­
graph Department to cooperate with His Majesty’s ships, and as last year Mr.
R. EL New, Assistant Superintendent, Jask sub-division, rendered yeoman service
in this regard.
Strict orders were issued to the Ranch and Sadech telephones to come into
circuit three times a day \aX sunrise, noon, and sunset) and it was particular 7
explained to the line-guards in charge that the most valuable information
be the movements and exact position of any collection of Afghans or camels.
with similar
An extra telephone station was also established at Jagin Rrver,
orders to cut in and report three times daily.