Page 544 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF
48
Ghulam Hussein Khan, Sardar Muhtesham, and Jafar Kulli Khan, Sar-
dar Bahadur, were appointed to the posts of Ilbcgi and Acting Ilkhani for
the winter of 1910-11, but up to the close of the year had not arrived in the
Low Country.
Early in May, Hussein Khan of the Bahmai was appointed Ilkhani of
the Kuhgelus, but his jurisdiction was
Kuhgolu Country.
purely nominal.
Shaikh Abdul Hussein filled the post of Director of Customs till the
month of October when he resigned,
and was replaced by Mirza Jallal Khan
from Mohammerah, who continued in the post till the close of the year, during
which time, he gave no cause for complaint to British firms.
Owing to abundant rains in the winter season 1909-10, thereby assuring
a good crop, the export duty on wheat was reduced 50 per cent, in the month
of June, at which rate it remained till the close of the year. The perjod of
reduced rate expired on the 22nd December, but was extended " till further
notice ” on representations being ma'de that a good crop was assured, abund­
ant rains having fallen in November and December 1910.
As is usual, the Persian Telegraph Line has been down and absolutely
closed since the winter set in, and all
Telegraph*.
firms, both European and Persian alike,
look forward to the long deferred advent of the Indo-European Telegraph
Department. At the close of the year it was rumoured that one of the Indo-
European Telegraph Department’s staff had started from Borasjun in con­
nection with the inauguration of the Arabistan telegraphs by the said
Department.
No progress has been made with the
Communications.—Luristan Road. Luristan road project during the year
under review.
Owing to the adverse conditions of 1909 continuing to hold during the
year under report on the Bushire-
Lynch Road (Ahwolcpahan).
Shiraz-Ispahan road, a large volume of
traffic remained deflected to the Lynch road.
Throughout the year the Lynch road has remained open, though its
closure was trembling in the balance, early in September. Owing to inter­
family dissensions between the Bakhtiari Khans, which are dealt with infra,
Sultan Muhammad Khan, Sardar Ashraf, Bakhtiari, informed ITis Majesty’s
Consul, Ahwaz, at that time in Ispahan, in writing that he, on behalf of the
other members of the Eaji Ilkhani family, repudiated responsibility with
regard to the Lynch road. The reason which he gave for this repudiation of
responsibility was that certain of the Bakhtiari Khans of the Ilknani family,
namely, Haji Kbusbro Khan, Sardar-us-Zaffar, and Yussuf Khan Arair-i-
Mujahid, were stirring up trouble in the Bakhtiari country, and that the
latter of these two Chiefs had treacherously captured and imprisoned, in
Chigakbor fort, Ghulam Ali Khan, who is a nephew of Sultan Muhammad
Khan and belongs to the Haji Ilkhani branch.
This move of the Sardar Ashraf of closing the road was dictated by the
•desire to force British intervention in favour of his kinsman; but it came to
nought, as His Majesty’s Consul, Ahwaz, wrote holding the Bakhtiari Chiefs
to their responsibility and, shortly afterwards, to prove the effect of this
move, he (His Majesty’s Consul) requested the Sardar Ashraf to supply him
with as many guards as he might consider necessary to accompany him on
tour to Arabistan. Guards were supplied and the closure of the road averted.
Early in the year serious trouble was caused on the road by the then Act­
ing Ilkhani and Acting Ilbegi delaying certain specie forwardments, which
were en route from Ahwaz to Ispahan.
Four large robberies have occurred on the Lynch road during the year
under review. In the early part of the
Guarding arrangement* on road and
robberiea thereon. year the guarding of the dangerous
portions of the road was entrusted by