Page 56 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

46 ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON THE PER6IAN GULF POLITICAL
proved not to bo much of a success os far os it was intended to punish the
Dirckwands, as His Highness undertook nothing in the way of reprisals
against them, and his only suocgbs in capturing thirteen of tho principal Mira
of the section, was effected by what His Highness called " la haute politique *»
which meant that he swore to them on tho Koran, assuring them of their
perfect safety if they would come in to see him. On their coming in, they
were at once seized and sent to Kormanshah loaded with chains. The* other
principal events of the year under report were the small riots in the town and
the insecurity in tho country round about. Tho first were caused by the high
prices of food. There had been bad harvests for three years in succession, and
the rich men of the plaoe had stored their stooks of grain and would not sell
until the prices should reach their highest; and in this they were but following
the example of His Highness the Fannan Farma, who made very large profits
out of the prevailing distress.
Riots in the town, and murders in the outskirts of the town were of
frequent occurrence, and on one occasion Mr. Robino of the bank was stoned.
It was not a very serious affair, and was easily settled by the Deputy Governor
of the town. Still, aB these small affairs may easily lead to others much more
serious, a careful watch had to be kept to see that things did not go beyond
bounds.
Towards the end of the year, rumours began to spread that His Imperial
Highness the Salar-ed-Dowleh was coming as Governor of Kermanshah, and
there was so much truth in it, that His Imperial Highness did actually make
some efforts to be appointed as the successor of the Farman Farma, but the
affair was arranged so that the Farman Farma was appointed to Kerman,
while the Salar-ed-Dowlch was appointed to Luristan. The Salar-ed-Dowleh
bad previously been Governor of Kermanshah, but his exactions were so heavy
that he was removed in response to the appeals made by his victims. There
were, therefore, many meetings of those by whose efforts he had previously
been removed,—and notably among them, the Imam-i-Jumeh,—and had His
Imperial Highness been appointed, all three Consulates would have been full
of persons taking “ bast’* or refuge.
Early in January, the Bissam-ul-Mulk (since distinguished with the title
of Amir-i-Afkham) was appointed to the Governorship of Kermanshah.
During the year, there were some small troubles amongst the tribes,
notably among the Pusbt-i-Kub Lurs, where the Vali and his son were fighting
against each other, and also in the Kalhor tribe, when the second son of Dacud
Khan, the Ilkhani of the tribe, was killed. Otherwise, the tribes have been
very quiet.
During the year 1904, there was a serious outbreak of cholera in the
province and in the town of Kermanshah, one European only, however, dying
of it, anemployd of the customs. The next year, 1905, was free from cholera,
hut there was great mortality from a variety of other diseases, chiefly owing to
the fact that after three years of insufficient food, the people had not sufficient
stamina to withstand any strain on their health.
Crops.—The harvest of 1904 was but a poor one, that of 1905 was the
same, the barley crop being a failure, and the wheat crop not being up to
average. In 1905, too, the ground crops were nearly destroyed by a visitation
of locusts, and the fruit, on which the people live for some two or three months
of the year, was completely eaten up by the same pest. In consequence, the
price of food has steadily increased, all edibles being equally affected.
This increase in the cost of food has also increased the cost of all other com­
modities in the bazaar, and has even had a very disturbing effect on the
mport and export trade of the province.
Trade.—The figures for the trade of the last three years are as follows:—
Export. Import.
£ £
1903- 04 193,896 804,812
1904- 05 217,664 886,949
165,082 745,674
19054)0