Page 207 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1007 1008. 23
ammunition besides eomo of tlio Sowars’ private property being carried off.
These events led Mr. Grahamo to cut short his tour and roturn to Shiraz.
No fluctuations of special importance were noted during the year. TheCommorce-
imporis arc stated to have been about
Imports.
the average during the summer months
find below during the winter althouuh British pieoegoods (the import of
which during the last, quarter of 11)07 is estimated at 5,()00 halos) maintained
their normal position. It may bo noted that tho import of Russian piecegoods
(ohiefly cotton prints) during the same quarter is estimated at no more than
300 bales.
It is generally admitted to have been a bad year for exports, general
insecurity combining with low prices in
Exports.
tho foreign markets to reduce sales. The
only exception to the uniformly gloomy character of the reports occurs in
the case of the export of opium during the last quarter of tho year, which is
stated to have been somewhat above tho average of recent years, the selling
price in Shiraz ranging from tomans 12 to tomans 13 per Shiraz maund. In
connection with non-British trade it may be noted that Herr Burger
(mentioned in Mr. Grahame’s note for 1907) appointed Mr. Hai Malcolm,
an Armenian under British protection, to push tho sale of aniline dyes, while
a competitor appeared in December 1907 in the person of Haji Mirza Husein,
the French Consular Agent, who wTas appointed local representative of tho
Hoecbster Farbwerko. A large proportion of the former lirm’s first consign­
ment is reported to have been refused by consignees as not up to sample and
tho trade in this articlo appears to have received a set back on this account.
Herr Kurt Jung, “ Attachd Commercial do l’Erapire Allemande,” arrived
at Shiraz from Bushire on February 22ud
Visit of Herr Jung.
and remained until tho 28th. He visited
the principal firms and Persian merchants, but it is noteworthy that in
conversation with the Acting Karguzar ho displayed complete ignorance of
tho fact that as above noted two firms of Gorman exporters have now agents in
Shiraz for the sale of aniline dy* s. His purchases were apparently confined to
saddle bags and carpets. In conversation with Mr. Roevar, a partner in the
only firm of Germans resident in Shiraz, be expressed bis concurrence in the
latter’s pessimistic ostimato of the commercial situation in Fars, aud lamented
that be should be called on to write in an optimistic vein on this subject. In
fact his visit appears to have little significance except as evidence of the
attention now being paid by the German Governmeut to Persian commerce.
The grain crops in the immediate vicinity of Shiraz appear to have been Agriculture,
good, but the outlying districts sufFered from rust and Qashgais, while in the
moro low-lying portions of the province the crop was an almost complete
failure owing to laok of rain. The opium crop was injured by hail iu April,
and was below the average.
In view of the almost complete impotence of the Provincial authorities PubUo security,
on the outlying parts of the Province, it is perhaps more surprising that the
roads should have been open at ail, than that a continual series of road
robberies should have been reported throughout the year.
On the Bushire road, the principal causes of trouble were the state of
chaos to which the town of Kazeroon was reduced by intestine feuds and tho
absence of all authority, and the standing quarrel between Hyder Khan of
Komarij and Nur Muhammad Khan of Daliki, each of whom had his candidate
for the post of Kadkhuda of Konnrtakbteh, a village situated on the road
itaelf. The nominal Deputy Governor of Kazeroon was Haji Zerghara-ush-
8harieh, son of the Imam Juma of Shiraz, who owns extensive properties in
that part of the provinoe, but suoh authority as existed was in the hands of
Khwnja Ibrahim, one of the notables of the town, who used his powers for the
extermination of his numerous private enemies. This naturally led to frequent
fighting iu and around tho town.
Tho feud between Kamarij and Daliki was quiescont during 1907, but in
January 1908 a miniature civil war broke out, the plain of Konartakhteh
a