Page 360 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER V.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE DISTRICT OF BUNDER
ABBAS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 1008.

General General.—The prevailing scarcity, generally unsettled clraractcr of rulo
remarks.
and petty jealousies created by frequent changes in officials, have led to a
state of affairs which in the districts can only be described as chaotic. In
the past year disturbances were frequent enough and it is to be regretted
that the tale of raids, revolts against authority and robberies during tho
year under review cannot be said to have been any smaller. Material and
economic progress has therefore been at a standstill if not actually retrograde.
Consulate buildings.—Good progress was made during the year with
the new Consulate buildings and by December they were so nearly completed
that it was found possible to vacate the old house at Naiband and formally
take possession on the 1st January 1909. The new buildings have produced
an excellent effect on the public mind, the political predominance of the
British flag at this port being well typified by their superiority and
extent.
Rainfall.—The rainfall has again been far below the average and much
scarcity prevailed in consequence. Heavy rain fell only on the 6th, 7th,
and 18th to 20th January, since when none has fallen.
Ilarx'cst.—After the heavy rain in January a good harvest was anticipa­
ted but the absence of any rain subsequently caused the crops to wither and
the harvest therefore failed, and in consequence prices have remained high
throughout the year.
Meteorological.—There is no regular observatory station at this Consul­
ate and such records of temperatures as have been possible arc given in the
appended table. The Director-General of Observatories to the Government
o\* India has been approached in the matter of fully equipping the new
Consulate as a regular recording station on the lines of other similar stations
in the Persian Gulf and it is hoped that he will view the idea favourably.
Local Persian Changes.—At the beginning of the year Mirza Ismail Khan who had
authorities. been appointed Deputy-Governor in November 1907 continued in office until
replaced on the 17th April by Ilaji Mahomed Khan, a half-brother of His
Excellency the Dcrya Begi, Governor of the Gulf Ports. He in turn was
succeeded (as a result of the Derya Begi’s own deposition) on the 27th July
by Haji Amanullah Khan, Ikhtidar-i-Nizam, who had held the post for a
brief period in the beginning of 1907. The Ikhtidar-i-Nizam has continued
in office to the end of the year.
The Karguzari remained in the charge of Mirza Abbas Khan, Amin-ul-
Wazara, throughout except for a brief period in June and July when he was
forced to resign by the local Anjuinan over a petty case regarding the sealing
up of the property of the late landing contractor of the British India
Steam Navigation Company.
The Shamilat continued under the joint Kalantars Asadullah Khan and
Mir Ahmed Shah until the close of the Persian official year in March when
an attempt was made to dispense with the services of Kalantars and deal
direct with the Katkhudas of villages. By the end of May this system had
proved a failure, and Sarhang Baba Khan was appointed ICajMtar attei*
promising Ts. 12,300 as the revenue for the current year. Asadullah Khan
having large interests in the Shamilat then proceeded to make things un­
pleasant for the Sarhang who, however, succeeded in maintaining ms
position.
At Lingah Safar Ali Khan held the Deputy-Governorship to the miiddie
of June when he was replaced, as the result of an intrigue said to be insug
ted by t>c Sadid-us-Sultaneh, the Russian Consular Agent, by an arti y
officer, Haji Ali Karam Khan, who held the office to the end of the year.