Page 52 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

42 ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON TITK TKRSIAN GULF POLITICAL

20. Pusht-i-Kuh.—Efforts mado to get into communication with the "WaU
■were at length crowned with succeca.
Ono of his confidential agents, Saiyid J’afar, paid a visit to 8b6ikh
Khaz’nl in April 1005, and occasion was taken to make hio acquaintance
He expressed a great desiro on the Wali’s part for our friendship, and ex­
tended pressing offers of hospitality.
Later in the year, when Major Morton had gono to the Bakhtiari
country, the Wali’s principal agent, Ka.Id Khfun came to Naairi bearing
answers from tho Wali to letters which had boon Bent by the hand of Saiyid

He was induced to leave a note of the tonus proposed for the projected
Saimarra caravan route.
During spring 1906 several communicatiops and repeated invitations
were received, but pressure of other work mado it impossible to pay a visit
to the Wali, or even to meot Ka.id Kliani at Dizful. Tho latter started
on his way down to KS-siri for the second time, but wa9 recalled on tho road
by urgent affairs.
21. In the domestic affairs of Pusht-i-Kuh the chief event was the re­
crudescence of hostilities between the Wali and his sons. This revolt against
paternal discipline has become a hereditary peculiarity of the ruling family.
A composition took place in spring, and the year under report closed in
peace.
BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
22. Messrs. Lynch "Bros.—The year has not been a particularly favour­
able one for the operations of this firm.
Though large quantities of wheat were available from the Mlyanab
and Shakha, the vexatious and unauthorised embargo placed on its export by
the Governor, the Salar Muazzam, concentrated the stream of profits into his
own pockets, and probably also those of his friends the Sardar Arf’a and
Haji Rais.
Messrs. Lynch Bros, had made considerable advances to cultivators
when the crop was assured, and they were left with the difficult business of
recovering these advances in cash.
In the present seasons the embargo has again been imposed from Tehran.
Shushter crops are reported as certain to yield a bumper harvest, and Shakha
is also very good. Even doun here, and on the saying of Haji Ra,is, the crops
will be good, though the area sown is limited.
The Customs Authorities have telegraphed four times to Tehran, but
without result, and up to the moment of writing (18th April 1906) no noti­
fication has been received of tho removal of the embargo.
In no case is an embargo against export of grain to Europe justified by
the facts, 'lhe heavy excise on export, and the narrow margin of profit on
wheat in London, act as an automatic check, and afford ample security against
local scarcity being produced by excessive export.
23. 'lhe Bakhtiari Road has suffered from the disturbed state of tho
country, but more from the bad state of tho track. There is no room for doubt
that for a considerable period the condition of the Road has boon extremely
bad, and that it is rapidly degenerating further. In gauging the reports of
travellers it is to be remembered that there i* a difference in the demands made
by a private party, where the loads are on the whole light and there is an
abundance of attendants, and those made by the ordinary trade caravan, where
loads are heavy and animals numerous, not picked, and accompanied by the
mmimnm of attendants.
Leaving Lynch out of the case, the object to be aimed at would seem to be
tbe establishment of a permanent work party on the road, to be supplemented
when necessary, and tbe termination of the present system of occasional
spasmodic efforts to repair it, when its repair has become both urgent and
difficult.