Page 524 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER III.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE BANDAR ABBAS VICE­
CONSULATE FOR THE YEAR 1910.

The districts of Bandar Abbas and Minab have shared in the general
disorder prevailing in Southern Persia during the past year : there has bben
an entire absence of control by the Government of Fars over the inhabitants
of .the South-Eastern portion of that Province, and the local authorities of
Bandar Abbas have displayed little willingness or ability to maintain order
beyond the immediate vicinity of the port. The most noteworthy disturban­
ces occurred in March and October, and on each occasion the prime movers
came from Fars jurisdiction, and with them a certain number of the inhabit­
ants of Shamil and other places in the Bandar Abbas district joined forces.
On the first, occasion His Excellency Darya Begi was at Bandar Abbas
living in the Kollah Firinghi. when a force of some 300 men, under the
leadership of one Hussein Kallah Kan, a follower of the notorious Seyyid
Abdul Hussein of Lar, entered the town, overcame a somewhat feeble resist­
ance offered by the local forces, and took possession of the Kollah Feringhi.
For the moment His Excellency's situation appeared somewhat critical, as
it was doubtful what the intention of the assailants were : money, however, as
usual, proved its efficacy as a solvent of such difficulties, and on payment of
5G0 tomans and an assurance that they would be allowed to depart unmolested,
the robbers left the .town.
The disturbances, in October, were considerably more serious, heavy losses
being sustained by both British subjects and the Persian inhabitants of the
district. Here again the principal agents were Baharlu sowars from Fars,
but they were ably supported by men belonging to Assadullah Khan and
Kasarullah Khan, two well-known free-booters of Shamil. The troubles
again coincided with the presence of Darya Begi in this district: His Ex­
cellency arrived at the end of September* and proceeded almost at once to
Minab, which had for some time been in a disturbed condition, and it was
while he was there that the raiders entered Shamil. They overran the entire
district, carrying off herds, flocks, grain, and property of every description.
Two caravans, carrying large consignments of goods belonging to British
Indian subjects to Kerman, were looted and goods to the total value of nearly
half a lakh of rupees were carried off. The raiders did not actually attack
the town but villages at a distance of 2 or 3 miles from the port were looted,
and one or two of the inhabitants killed. His Excellency Darva Begi how­
ever returned from Minab just as things were beginning to loot rather criti­
cal, and the robbers retired leisurely towards Fars.
Minab was formerly leased to the Moin-ut-Tujjar, but, at the beginning
of the yeai, the Persian Government
resumed control of it. For some months
there was no recognised authority there, as the Moin’s agent vacated his post,
and the Central Government appointed no successor. Finally, however, an
order was received from the Central Government making Minab an appanage
of Bandar Abbas. Since then there have been a rapid succession of nominees
of the Deputy Governor of Bandar Abbas there, each more incapable than
the last. There 'are large claims by British subjects against certain Minabis,
the chief creditor being one Ali Khan, a large landowner and a man of con­
siderable means. The Deputy Governor of Bandar Abbas, Misbah-i-Diwan,
as soon as Minab was put under his jurisdiction, proceeded there with a large
force of “ tufangchis ” to collect revenue and effect a settlement of the claims.
It a ppears probable that had he approached Ali Khan peaceably, the latter
woula have been both able and willing to make some effort to meet his liabil­
ities : Ali Khan however, not unnaturally perhaps, took fright at the approach