Page 264 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

go ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
The landing of the first, largo consignment of arms was accomplished at
Gabreg on the 3rd March 1908, and, although, the patrol at Gabreg gave
early indication of a suspected landing, in the circumstances it was almost
impossible to dotermine the actual day of landing because the consignment
was kept back m Maskat, and the Afghans thcmsolves had no idea wheu it
would cross.
The circumstances of this particular landing were investigated by
Mr. Now, who found that the four boats which landed 2,880 rifles at Gabreg
and 1,000 rifles at Habt had been ready loaded in Muttra early in February,
but the presenco of fl. M. S. Proserpine at Jask and Maskat causod the
Afghans to delay departure until lator, when thoy got information from Ali
Moosa of tho Proserpine's probable visit to Bushire. The consignment was
thus kept back for nearly a mouth and ovcntually sent across after the
Proserpine's departure up the Gulf.
It seems that the Maskat arms dealer, Ali Moosa, is able to get informa­
tion regarding movements and destinations of ships from the dubasb and bakers
employed by His Majesty’s ships. On the 2nd February 1908, 57 Afghans
under Dcon Mohamod Khan of Kabul, arrived at Gwadur by mail steamer from
Karachi. They travelled to Dashtyari, where they halted, and when their
intention of operating on the coast to the eastward of Charbar was known,
Mr. New decided to establish a patrol and telephone at ftodi, near Bris
Bund*T.
This party of Afghans made two successful landings, one at Bris Bunder
on the 19th March 1908 and another at Pagjah (20 miles east of Ch.irbar)
on the 3rd April 1908. No indication of the arrival of either of these con­
signments could be obtained.
With regard to tho landing of 300 rifles at Bris Bunder on the 19th
March 1908, it is regretted that the patrol at llodi was fearful of the duties
he had undertaken. He was dismissed and another man engaged. Jn addi­
tion to these two consignments, Deen Mobamed Khan bought about 300 rifles
locally in the districts of Dashtyari and Bahu.
With regard to the Afghans operating in the Ja«»k district it was stated
that Mir Noor Mohnmed demanded
Complicities of Mira.
rather higher fees than the Afghans were
dispose1 to pay. Negotiations were accordingly opened with Mir Barkat of
Jask and Biyaban, who was only waiting for a chance to induce tho Afghans
to divert their attention to his part of the coast. Mir Barkat is Chief of
part of tho Biyaban district which embraces the portion of coast from Kuh
Mubarak to Karai Creek, and it will be seen that during the month of April
many large consignments of arms were landed between these points. He no
doubt informed the Afghans of the presence of our telephone stations and
enumerated the advantages of carrying on their traffic through the country
westward of Jnsk out of touch of the telegraph line, and the result was that
his services were accepted.
Mir Barkat arranged to engage local boats, and to send retainers of his
own to Maskat to purchase rifles. His men at the same time patrolled
the coast to watch the approach of boats carrying consignments of arms,
and also assisted in the landing of cargoes. In fact be afforded the Afghans
every assistance and was liberally paid for his co-operation.
The terms arranged were that Mir Barkat should receive Rs. 2 and two
rounds of ammunition on each rifle landed. Mir Barkat arranged the engage­
ment of boats giving the owner an advance of Us. 100, and the balance which
amounted to Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 according to the size of the boat, was paid by
the Afghans on receipt of consignments. Altogether Mir Barkat is reputed
to have received Its. 23,000 from the Afghans and a considerable quantity
of ammunition.
It does not appear that Mir Barkat shared his takings from the reason
with any other Chiefs of the Ja9k or Biyaban districts. In fact the two Chiefs
of Biyaban, Mir Haji and Mir Karabar of Bunji, wrote letters to the officer
in charge at Jask corroborating the foot -that Mir Barkat was assisting the
Afghans and receiving money from them. Tbeir motive was undoubtedly