Page 46 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

36 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERM AN GTTT.E POLITICAL

Pabt II.—MATTERS VICE-CONBULAB.
1. Captain D. L, R. Lorimer was Vice-Consul throughout the year, but
during his absence on leave in Europe from 7th June to 6th January Major
Morton, R.E., on special duty, held acting charge. * J
The following tours wore carried out:—
August 14th to November 20tli Major Morton travelled up the Bakhtiari
Road to Ispihan and returned by the same route. February 21st to Maroh 1st
Captain Lorimer paid a visit to Ramuz, proceeding by Raghaiwa and return*
ing by Shakha.
March 9th to 21st, a trip to M’ashur was made, and the Neighbourhood of
the Ma’bhur and Dorak Creeks was examined.
t o o 0
2. Building of a Vice-Consulate.—This project made no progress, until in
February 1906 Sheikh Khaz’al obtained an agreement from the M’uin ut
Tujjar recognising the proposed site as the joint property of the Sheikh’s son
and his own son, and the full power of the Sheikh to act on behalf of both the
partners. The opinion of the Government of India on the situation revealed
by the instrument is awaited. If it is unfavourable, an alternative site will
have to be looked for.
The preparation of plans and estimates, in supersession of those drawn up
by Mr. Beveridge, is in the hands of the Consulting Architect to the Govern­
ment of India.
2(a). Notification was received in April of the appointment of a Consular
Surgeon for the combined Consulates of Ahwaz and Kermanshah.
During the year which has elapsed since this post has not been visited by the
Consular Surgeon.
In January 1906, a Hospital Assistant, originally intended lor Kermanshah,
reported himself for service at Ahwaz.
No medical or surgical equipment has yet been received for the Vice-
Consulate. With the remains of some drugs, etc., receired in 1904, and with
extraneous assistance from Mohammerah and elsewhere, it has, however, been
found possible to treat eight Persian soldiers suffering from gunshot wounds
received in the Bani Turuf outbreak. The cases are still under treatment,
but are progressing excellently.

SOUTHEBN ABABI8TAN.
3. There was no displacement of the governing authority during the year,
supreme control resting in the hands of the Sardar Arf’a, Sheikh Khaz’al,
assisted by his quasi wazir, Haji Ra’ia ut Tujjar.
Sheikh Hanzal remained in charge of Ahwaz.
In April the Bani Turuf, an Arab tribe living close to the Turkish border,
turned to their annual pastime of refusing to pay tribute to Sheikh Khas’sl,
to whose charge they have been made over by the Persian Government. In
answer to enquiries made by the Governor of Shushter the ordinary excuses
were preferred, failure of the crops and poverty.
Eventually an expedition was organised against them by the
Muazzam and Sheikh Khaz’al. The Salar contributed some 1,300 men to the
forces- The expedition started on the 19th October, but no fighting to speak
of followed, the authorities as usual deeming it expedient to allow themselves
to be cajoled by the verbal submission of the Chiefs.
Of the several leaders of the tribe, Haji Sabhan, who refused to
the orerlord8b:ip of Sheikh Khaz’al, was driven into exile. *Ali Minaishid and