Page 361 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND TITE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1900. 61
At Minab Sheikh Ilassan Amin-i-Diwan continued in ofiice as Deputy-
Governor until the 19th June, when on his resignation Mir Ghulam Ali
Rudani was appointed. But the latter finding the constant dissensions and
intrigues of the inhabitants too much for him also resigned within three
weeks, and Sheikh Hassan being re-appointed in his place held ofiice to the
end of the year.
In Kishm Sheikh Saleh continued in office, but an innovation was intro­
duced by the appointment of Sheikh Ilassan as Zabit of Laft on June the
25th, thus making two Zabits responsible for-portions of the Island.
At Hormuz the interest of the Muin-ut-Tujjar have remained in the
care of Mirza Khalil.
Attitude.—The attitude of the local officials has on the whole been
better towards this Consulate, with the notable exception of Sheikh Hassan
Amin-i-Diwan, and at Minab the prompt and conciliatory manner in which
Kcrbelai Mahomed Hassan used to settle cases is much missed. Moreover,
the authority of Sheikh Hassan in Minab appears to be of the slenderest
description. Petty eases of thefts, debts and settlements of accounts, in
tiie town when the debtors have not considered the sum sufficiently large to
warrant their absconding, have, as a rule, been promptly settled. The older
and larger claims however continue to be evaded in the time-honoured way.
Situation.—At the beginning of the year the after-damp of the Baharlu Public
tribes’ explosion, noticed in last year’s report, was not dispersed until about tronqui5?ty.
ibe middle of January, when on the disappearance of the tribesmen the
Bushire sarbazes returned from their camp in the Ginao hills and proceeded
to their head-quarters.
In outlying villages small raids were not unfrequent, and the bolder
and more impecunious spirits in the neighbourhood found that the absence
of any real opposition on the part of the local authorities as well as the
latter’s inability to exact retribution gave them as many opportunities for
enriching themselves at the expense of their neighbours as they desired.
Incidents.—In January one Ali Mulla Saffi of the Gooji tribe who resides
near the Tang-i-Zagh Pass, threatened retaliation owing to the way in which
a claim, for damages to the orange-gardens of a Bunder Abbas merchant
had been settled, and though they did not descend actually to Bunder Abbas,
committed several depredations in the Shamilat.
In the beginning of February some 400 donkeys were carried off by
some 30 of these men whilst grazing near Baghu (some 12 miles from Bunder
Abbas).
On the 27th February a sowar of the Kerman escort on his way to the
coast for India was robbed of his belongings also near the same place. This
case has not yet reached a final settlement. About the same time a caravan
was robbed near Rahdar in Shamilat by robbers said to be from Ahmedi and
therefore in Fars jurisdiction.
In March intelligence was received of the death of one Kerbelai Saraj,
one of the most noted and truculent robbers in the neighbourhood; some
years previously he had been Kalantar of Fin, and dismissal turned him into
a highwayman, a role he sustained with much success and profit.
In April a donkey-caravan was robbed on the Yezd route, near the Ginao
hills.
In May an Armenian in the German Shipping Agency robbed a Bahrain
Arab in the town of some R2,300 and £140, a large part of which was
recovered on energetic measures being instituted by His Majesty’s Consulate.
In June, when arrangements had been made for opening the premises
of the late landing contractor of the British India Steam Navigation
Company by the Karguzar and a representative of this Consulate, a special
majlis was convened at the instigation of the Deputy-Governor Haji Khan
me-ocal Sheikh Ali, and the head of the merchants, Haji Amin ut-
Tujjar, for the purpose of censuring the Karguzar, a purpose temporarily
effected by 1ns being forced to resign the seals of his office. The agitation