Page 322 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

22 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
The general character of the medical work which presents itself remains
as in previous years.
14. New Consulate building.—No information has been received to show
that the question of thoimilding of a house for the Consulate has reached a
more advanced stage. Only the architects’ plans were received for criticism in
the month of August.
15. Consular tours, etc.—Of the nine months under review 53 days (in­
cluding the whole of April) were spent at head-quarters, and the remainder,
208 days, on tour.
The longest continuous period spent by the Consul at one place was 55
days passed in Julfa.
These facts and the defective means of communication with head-quar­
ters will indicate that some difficulty is experienced in dealing with routine
work.
The following account of tours undertaken will incidentally show the
ground which has been covered during the year :—
16. 7th May to 30th June—from A hwaz to Ispahan.—It was at first pro­
posed to travel up to Ispahan via Pusht-i-Kuh, and accordingly the first move
was to Dizful. The unruly state of the Sagwand, however, was found to
make it impossible to reach the Wali’s border, and after some delay a fresh
start was made with the design of reaching Ispahan via Bazuft. This de­
sign was carried out. The road, formerly kept in some state of repair,
was found very bad in parts, and considerable trouble was experienced from
the thieving propensities of the local Bakhtiari tribes.
The principal points visited were Tang-i-Baba Ahmad, Bazuft, Gardan-
i-Cherri, Surab (Karkunun) and Chadegun in Faraidan. Thence Ispahan
was made by way of Binn, Sanium, Qala Agha, Qala Riza, and Qadarjan.
Much exploring was prevented, as has already been noted, by Captain
Lorimer’s suffering from persistent neuralgia.
17. 10th July to 14th August—Ispahan to Tehran and back.—Per­
mission having been obtained, Captain Lorimer proceeded to Tehran
to visit the dentist, leaving the establishment in charge of Lieutenant
Ranking. Opportunity was taken to talk over various matters at the
Legation, especially the question of the Luristan road.. Captain Haworth
(His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Kermanshah), who was also at Tehran at
the time, was a party in these discussions.
18. 9th October to 3rd November—Ispahan to Kermanshah.—As already
explained Lieutenant Ranking was detailed to march out the relieved Ispahan
escort. The Consul proceeded alone by the ordinary trade route to Hamadan,
passing Khonsar, Gulpaigan, Khumain, and Daulatabad.
Su pplies were found abundant and cheap, and the route at this season
perfectly secure. From Hamadan to Kermanshah the ordinary route was
followed. The road was reputed unsafe, but beyond having to make consi­
derable payments for useless escorts, no inconveniences were experienced.
A fortnight’s halt was made with His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Ker­
manshah owing to the delay of Lieutenant Ranking who did not arrive
until the 13th November.
19. 19th November to 17th December—Kermanshah to Ahwaz via Pusht-
i-Kuh.—After some difficulty owing to no escort having arrived from the
Wali, resulting from the interception of a messenger of the Kermanshah
Consulate by Daud Khan, Kalhor, a start was made with an escort provided
by the local Governor.
Leaving the journey through Pusht-i-Kuh which will be referred to later,
Arabistan was entered close to Shush, and from this point, in order to avoid
the Sagwand, Dizful was avoided and a straight line taken on Shuster.
The journey was continued by raft down the Shatait and Karun to Wais,
and thence by land to Ahwaz.
20. Northern Arabistan.—Charge of the province rcmainc4 in the
hands of Sheikh Khazal, but apparently more by default than by any very