Page 321 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND TUB MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1008. 21

left Ispahan on October lltli under the command of Lieutenant Ranking
who subsequently returned with the relieving guard whom he installed at
Ispahan. Thereafter ho rejoined the Consul who had in the meantime pro­
ceeded to Kcrmanshah en route to Pusht-i-Kuh and Arabistan.
7. The conduct of the Ispahan guard was such as to demand constant
supervision and considerable firmness, and Lieutenant Ranking met these
demands with a high degree of active conscientiousness and conspicuous good
judgment. He also gave valuable assistance in many ways in the legiti­
mate work of the Consulate.
On return to Arabistan he was summoned to give evidence in the Court
Martial of the Ispahan guard and left Ahwaz on December 30th.
8. Lieutenant Wilson.—During Lieutenant Ranking’s absence Lieut­
enant Wilson, I.A., remained in sole charge of the Oil Guard.
Under his command the guard has been maintained in an excellent state
of discipline and efficiency, and no fracas or disturbances of any kind have
fallen to be reported.
9. In addition to looking after the guard, Lieutenant Wilson found
opportunities of continuing the excellent geographical and gazetteer work
which he began in the spring. Besides completing our geographical know­
ledge of the Bakhtiari Garmsir to the east of the Ivarun, he was able to visit
Susa and to explore part of the Mungasht range.
Later he examined the coast from Deh Mulla to M’ashur whence he pro­
ceeded onwards to Mohammcrah by way of Buziya. This journey was per­
formed while it was still the hot weather, and from that point of view
probably constitutes a record since the days of Layard.
Subsequently he directed his investivations to the Kuhgelu country and
in reaching Dishmuq touched ground probably not previously visited by any
European. He made the acquaintance of certain of the Banmai chiefs and
found them well disposed. The journey was not without those exciting
incidents which are to be looked for when travelling among Lurs.
10. Lieutenant Wilson’s activities for the year terminated with a jour­
ney up the direct route from Ahwaz to Dizful (between the Diz and Kerkha
rivers), which it was important should be examined in view of the possible ex­
tension of the Oil Syndicate’s operations to Pusht-i-Kuh.
A fortunate chance presented itself of travelling under the protection
of Sheikh Haidar of the A1 Kathir, and was promptly seized.
Lieutenant Wilson’s researches in the Bakhtiari country will eventually
be embodied in a convenient form, in a work which is now being printed for
him under the orders of the Intelligence Branch. In particular the Survey
of India will have reason to be grateful for the correction of many time-
honoured mistakes in their maps of the district.
11. His Britannic Majesty’s Consul has great pleasure in bringing the
excellent services of these two Officers to the notice of Government.
12. Dispensary.—As the Hospital Assistant accompanied the Consul on
tour, the dispensary was closed from 6th May to 17th December. The clos­
ing of the dispensary elicited for the first time an expression of obligation
on the part of the inhabitants of Nasiri for its services. On learning that
its temporary closing was contemplated, the community deputed some of their
leading members to beg that the Hospital Assistant should be left in Nasiri
and painted in gloomy colours the fate which would otherwise befall them.
Providence, however, does not appear to have combined with opportunity
to rid the community of any of its principal lights.
13. The average attendance at the dispensary for the period during
which it was open was 93-2 per day as against 42-3 for the preceding year
and 42.25 for 1905-06.
This increase is due to a greater suitability for the post of the new Hos­
pital Assistant, Fazl Elahi, who succeeded tho first incumbent in December