Page 539 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1810. 43
them to be put on the Upper Karun without waiting for formal sanction, and
this was done in July, with the co-operation of the Shaikh, and in spite of the
opposition of the Karguzar. The launch and barges are employed solely on
the Oil Company’s work, and the Persian steamer “ Shushan ” and “ M’awin ”
are likewise being utilised as far as is possible without interfering with
the Shushtar and Dizful cargo.
Early in the year Messrs. Lynch proposed to replace the “ Shushan ” tem­
porarily by the “ Ishtar,” whilst the former was undergoing repair. His
Majesty’s Minister sanctioned this being done without formally informing the
Persian Government, the Karguzar at Mohammerah being notified when it had
actually been done. It was stipulated, however, that the u Ishtar ” should re­
turn to the Lower Karun as soon as the Persian steamer “ Shushan ” returned.
The project did not however mature. It may bo of interest to recall here that
in 1892, when a similar proposal was made by Messrs. Lynch Brothers, the
Persian Government refused to give the desired permission, and the matter
was not pressed by His Majesty’s Minister. The result was that the Nasiri
Company’s boat monopolized the traffic on the Upper Karun, and raised rates
all round, to the general dissatisfaction of British and foreign merchants.
This branch did, it is understood, a good business during the first year
of its existence, and fulfilled a real need
Imperial Dank of Persia, Mohammerah.
of the commercial community.
In October it was decided to open a branch at Ahwaz, and Mr. Dewar
Durie, in charge of the Mohammerah branch, proceeded to Ahwaz at the be­
ginning of 1911 to take charge of the new branch. Mr. Dalton arrived from
Shiraz to take charge in his plaoe at Mohammerah. The Ahwaz branch is
opened, it is understood, in the confident expectation of handling the Customs
receipt apart from which there is not much business to be done at Ahwaz.
The visit to Nahr Hashirn in company with Sir W. Willcocks was men­
tioned in last year’s report and need not
Tours of His Majesty’s Acting ConsoL
be touched on further.
Three visits were made during the year to Bushire, and the presence of
H. M. S. “ Redbreast ” at the head of the Gulf was utilized to make a trip
up the Khor Musa with the object of solving the relative positions of the Qub-
ban ruins seen at the head of the Khor leading into Khor Musa at Cairn I,
and the ruins seen by Lieutenant Wilson at the head of the Khor whose three
mouths, Muwaileh, Silaik Barri, and Kuwairin, were explored by him in 1909.
Bad weather however prevented this from being done; the position of Cairn I
and Daira I were fixed astronomically by Lieutenant T. N. Spreckley, R.N.
Nasiri was visited several times during the summer, and various minor
questions disposed of.
Fao was visited during the year, and frequent conferences took place dur­
ing the year between His Majesty’s Consuls at Basrah and Mohammerah.
H. M. S. “ Redbreast " paid several visits during the year, being stationed
Visits of Hu Ms.jo.tr-. Ships. at ^ ^ of the Gu!f during the date
season to prevent piracy. H. M. S.
* Sphinx ” paid a brief visit at the dose of the year. R. I. M. S. “ Law­
rence ” paid several visits.
The following table shows the number
of registration, compared with that for
Registration of British Subjects.
previous years:—
Year.
Number of Registrations.
1908 . ao
1909 .
77
1910 .
450

g 2