Page 230 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

4G ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF
POLITICAL RESIDENCY
The Muin's proposals were* not very precise, but after duo consideration
it was not considered advisable to recommend the transport Company to
attempt to enter into any form of partnership with him.
GG. In autumn a scheme of some magnitude for the opening of a trndo
route between Alnvaz, Dizful and Kcrmanshah vns submitted by Hii
Majesty s Consul at Kermanshah, which will no doubt receive full mention
m the Political lteport of that officer.
Pusht-i-Kuii.
G7. The internal history of the Pusht-i-Kuh during the year appears
to liavo been marked by no important events. On the other band its external
affairs have been the subject of a considerable body of popular rumour.
It appears tolerably certain that in the hot weather the Wali bad an engage­
ment on the frontier with some Turkish troops, whom he defeated with some dclat.
.In January ho seems to have takon part in a general sohemc for the dis­
ciplining of the tribes of Luristan, sanctioned by the Persian Government.
The Wali joined forces with the Beni Lam of Sheikh Gadbban, and fell
on the Sagwand in the country between Biz and Karkha rivers and routed
them plundering much of their property. The professed intention was, it is
understood, to punish the Sagwand for not obeying the Sardar Mukarram’s
summons to come up-country. The Sardar Mukarram was himself to tackle
the. Birakwand, but it is doubtful whether he ever quitted Kliurramabad, and
it is certain that nothing was accomplished. With the plundering of this
section of the Sagwand, the scheme apparently died out.
Again in February circumstantial accounts were current of the Wall’s
having attacked, whether with or without provocation being unknown, some
Arab subjects of the Turks, and of bis having put a large number of them
to the sword. Still later ho is said to have cut up a Turkish force, the composi­
tion of which is not stated.
The latest rumour is that lie has fallen out with Sheikh Gadhban, with
whom he has marriage relations and with whom some sort of working alliance
appears to have existed for some time.
On various occasions during the year letters have been received from
Kaid Khani, the VVali’s Agent, reiterating the Wali’s desire to make the
personal acquaintance of the Vice-Consul. Up to the present, however, it
has not been found possible to pay a visit to Pusht-i-Kuh.
British Enterprise and Commercial and Political Activities.
68. Messrs. Bynch Brothers.—The Agency at Ahwaz was held from May
to February by Mr. Redfern in place of'Mr. E. A. Wilson, who was on leave
during that period. The Agency at Muhammerali since Mr. Redfern vacated
it in April has been in charge of a British Indian subject.
Between August and November there was great activity on both the
trading and shipping sides, owing to the large quantity of ^ lie at available for
export. Lynch exported on their own account about 20,000 bogs of wheat, an
the “ Malarair ” carried in all about 30,000.
Kran9 48
The top price paid by Messrs. Lynch Brothers for wheat was .
per (approximate) cwt., except on one or two occasions when trade nva ry
made it necessary to raise it temporarily. The prospects of the comin0
harvest are very poor.
69. For many years Messrs. Lynch Brothers have been seeking permission
to build a store-room for cargo at Shalnili which has been consistently re us
by the Persian Government. In 1907 Mr. Redfern approached SheiKi
Murtaza on the subject with the result that a tentative lease of a piec
ground claimed as bis by Sheikh Murtaza was drawn up.
Action was, however, not at once taken, and the fact of the arrangemen
of the lease became public. f »
The Karguzar at Muhammerah thereon separately addressed Bis Maj y
Consul at Muhammerah and SheikhJMurtaza, To the former he announced