Page 362 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

<52 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

was also augmented by the closing of the bazaars for an hour. The real
reason for the incident appears to be that the deceased having possessed
considerable property and a young wife of somewhat easy virtue whilst the
existence of an heir was open to dispute, an array of facts was presented
which opened up endless possibilities to all and sundry for a share in the
estate, and that the fulfilment of these hopes was likely to be rendered difficult
owing to the British Consulate taking action in the matter. These facts
combined with the overbearing authority which the local “ Majlis ” (whose
moving spirit was the arch-intriguer the Sadid-us-Sultanch) produced this
storm in a tea-cup. Subsequent representations from this Consulate brought
about peace and the rendition of his seals of office to the Karguzar.
In July the brutal murder of a servant by his master occurred in the
Lari quarter of the town. The servant had been accused of a theft and on
being ill-treated and tied up for a night to bring about a oonfession died.
An attempt was made to hush up the affair but it was divulged by a fellow-
servant and the crime expiated by the master being required to pay a fine
of R300.
At Sarkhum in August robbers successfully attacked the brother of the
Kalantar of Shamil, whilst conveying the sum of R500 revenue collections
in cash and made off with the treasure as well as the 2 rifles, 2 donkeys and
a horse belonging to the guard. The outrage was committed in broad day­
light and none of the offenders were brought to book.
In September panic was caused in Minab by the arrival there of about
a thousand men under Ali Khan Minabi and Mir Gliulam Ali Rudani.
Considerable looting took place and a number of the inhabitants fled to
Bunder Abbas. Some British subjects suffered, whose claims for compen­
sation are still being pressed by this Consulate.
Again in October another scare was caused in Minab by the descent of a
number of Rudbaris, to withstand whom the Deputy-Governor was quite
powerless owing to want of men.
Towards the end of the year disquieting news began to come in from
Lar, where the Seyyid Abdul Hussain had attracted a very large following by
preaching that the payment of the Government revenue and taxes was unlaw­
ful as the Shah was employing the revenues to kill co-religionists in Tehran
and Tabriz. The Seyyid’s doctrine brought him a host of followers who seem
to have teduced Laristan generally to anarchy, having turned cut, and in
some cases murdered, the local Government officials.
Trade routes.—From the above it will be apparent that caravans moving
to and from the port have had more than their usual share of difficulties to
contend with, and it is a fact that the Yezd route via the Tang-i-Zagh has
remained closed almost throughout the year, and that only the very largest
caravans have succeeded in winning through to the interior without loss.
The disturbances near Minab practically' closed the easterly routes
through the Rudbari country for some time, but large caravans are now again
using these.
Anjuman.—This institution was touched upon in last year’s report. In
the beginning of the year a so-called “ Karaat-i-Khana ” (school-house) was
founded by subscription, which gradually, under the efforts of the Sadid-us-
Sultaneh, developed into the “ Anjuman-i-Jawid ” and the five trustees of
the school-house became the a Rais Ummumi-Millat.” This assembly sat
twice a week and did its best at first to advise the local authorities in the
way in which they should walk, but eventually culminated in general inter­
ference until it felt sufficiently strong to force the Karguzar to resign the
seals of his office in June. In July however orders were received from the
Governor of the Gulf Ports dissolving the Anjuman and prohibiting meetings
of its members, a salutary measure which prevented in time the subversion oi
all authority and order. As a result of the inauguration of the Anjuman
Haji Hussain Gelladary, Amin-ut-Tujjar, had acquired such influence tna
scarcely a single matter of any importance reached a conclusion without n
being consulted by both the Deputy-Governor and Karguzar. Towards tn