Page 54 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

44 ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON TIIE TERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
29. Little reckoning has to be made with these schemes. The M’uin
however personally stated to the Vice-Consul in February that he had a steamer
building: on the Clyde which was almost due for delivery, and he has lately
purchased a small stornwheeler belonging to the Astrabadi Company at
Baghdad. With regard to the latter it is stated that the Turkish Authorities
have refused permission for it to bo removed from Turkish territory. It jB
the M’uin’s intention to run one steamer on the lower, and one on the upper
Karun.
Haji Eri,Is is in debate as to whether he will accept the agency of these
ships. Ho averts -that, lie would not permit a policy of cutting rates,
if he were in charge. The capability of a Persian in the M’uin’s position and*
with the service he commands to keep steam boats running, apart from the
question of making them pay, is more than doubtful.
30. The Russian Consular Agent at Ah was.—Mr. ter Meuien returned
from a trip to Europe in June. He was made the recipient of some sort of
order from the Russian Government. It is difficult to see what he does for
the Russian beyond mixing their name in bis sometimes rather questionable
business affairs. Presumably he acts as a news-writer.
The result of his visit home was the arrival of a business compatriot,
M. Gratama. This gentleman, who approved himself to Britishers here, is
by way of entering into partnership with ter Meuien. The latter is talking
very hig of the extension which is grintg to take place in his business. With
abundance of capital, an agency at Meharamerah, the help of the M’uin-ut-
Tujjar’s competition in the River shipping, and the agency which he holds for
Messrs. Strict, he is going to sweep Messrs. Lynch Bros, off the field.
M. Gratama left in March, but he returns in autumn. As the evidence
of things not seen in the way of increase of business, ter Meulen’s establish­
ment has just been doubled by the arrival of a young Dutch assistant.
In the meanwhile he has to ask Messrs. Lynch to collect his bills for him
in Shush ter.
EUROPEAN VISITORS.
31. Colonel Bailward and Mr. Woosnam, the naturalist, completed their
tour in Arabistau, and left in April, travelling north by the Bakhtiari
Road.
Mr. Pilgrim of the Geological Survey of India, arrired at Ahwaz in May
and paid a brief visit to the nearer ranges of the Bakhtiari Hills He left
Ahwaz for India on June Lth. Nothing is known of the results ofhis in­
vestigations.
In autumn a French Commercial Agent, M. Alexandre, paid a visit to
Shushter and Dizful
In October a German traveller came down, it is believed from Kasr-i-
Shirin through Pusht-i-Kuh territory to Dizful and Awaz. He neglected to
put himself under the protection of the Wali, and by the time he had reached
Dizful he had parted with almost every article of value he possessed. He did
not make any attempt to refuse to part with his property.
M. de Morgan and party paid their usual brief visit to Susa, remaining
only two and a half months. The Comte de Caloune, a Frenchman, was their
guest
The Persian agent of a Russian trader, Teleskv, visited Aliwaz, Shushter,
and Dizful this spring trying to get orders for Russian goods. It is not
understood that he was very successful.
The Secretary of the Russian Consulate at Bushire came up the Karun
in March, and went on to Shushter and Dizful.

D.-L. R. LORIMER,
His Majesty's Vice-Consul for Arabistan.
Ahwaz ;
The 21st April 1906.