Page 347 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1000. 47
February is normally the coldest month of the year and the 15th July
to the 15th August, the hottest period. March and April were the two
rainy months while most snow fell in February.
The rainfall was only 15-39 inches, the maximum heat 103-2° and the
maximum cold 12-9°.
The Persian year is not yet completed and the revenue is not collected. RoYcnuo ond
The Governor has had considerable difficulty in recovering his due and is, I Jjjfiumtioa.
fear, likely to lose money.
It is quite impossible for a chief of a local tribe to be a successful gover­
nor. The present occupant of that post, Zahir-ul-mulk, is absolutely hopeless
and no doubt secure in the idea, which he has, that he will have the support of
the Shah, on account of the loyalty he has displayed, has now refused to bo
held responsible for the losses of foreigners even during the period of his
own governorship. He has also refused to allow the Russian Consul to send
his Mirza with a “ raaraur,” who was going to the chief of the Kalhors with
reference to certain robberies from Russian subjects. He neglects direct
orders from Tehran on Customs matters and thus no work of any kind can
proceed where foreigners are concerned. I have refused to accept the Gover­
nor’s answers or those of the Karguzar to my letters and th\is the situation
stands at present, I trust that we shall be able to get Zahir-ul-mulk removed
and a new governor put in his place.
Our relations with the Russian Consul have been very satisfactory and I Official
have never had any complaint to make. M. Nicolsky is most friendly. Madame ^olat,,,D,’
Nicolsky was a little difficult at first and seemed to have a violent objec­
tion to most English people, but it was mainly due to the fact that she consi­
dered that she had been slighted by English visitors and more especially by
Bank officials. It appears difficult, both for British officers and for members of
the Bank, to understand that a certain ceremony is incumbent on them, and
very few of them paid farewell calls on the Russian Consul on leaving. Many
also did not call within the first week, some indeed not for two months till
approached by me, while one gentleman did not call at all on the Russian
doctor and his wife, though they were here together for a whole year. On
these questions being brought to my notice, I succeeded in putting matters
right but with some difficulty. It might be well to impress on all officers
visiting Persia what are their duties in social affairs, since the trouble involved
is little and the bad feeling, subsequent on neglect, is out of all proportion
to the event. I must confess that, in many cases, Madame Nicolsky had the
right to be annoyed, though of a touchy disposition at all times.
Our relations with the Customs officers are, as always the best possible,
and we have received every courtesy from them.
Since the Persian year does not close till the 21st March, it is premature Tr*d*.
to make any remarks on the progress of trade, the details of which will be
found in the annual trade report when completed.
The year has, however, been satisfactory. Even Russian red ground
cotton goods have been ousted by British, though I regret to say that the
quality which we are supplying is very inferior. This is due to the fact
tnat a certain number of Hamadan Jews have migrated to Manchester from
whence they order a very inferior quality of cloth to be made to sample.
These goods they export to their friends in Hamadan and Kermanshah. The
names of these firms are as follows :—
Isaacs Brothers & Co. M. J. Somekh & Co.
Joseph Sassoon, Sykes & Co. Yehouda Ileskel &. Co.
Sham ash, Bros. & Co. J. J. Ini, Bros. & Co.
E. S. David & Co, M. S. S. David & Co,

The trade of Kurdistan is entirely Russian, except for cotton goods.
For very, very many years, the Kurdistan merchants, mainly the Christians,

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