Page 650 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1911.
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Musandim peninsula to the Trucial Coast ports. And it is stated that arms
have even lound their way so far up the Arab Coast as Katif and Katr,
whore depots are said to have been established. The total number of rifles
1 :.nded in the Lingah district during the year under review, viz., 2.7G0, is
greatly in excess of the 1910 list, wnicli amounted to 972 arms, including
Mauser pistols.
These riflos arc chiefly imported by Evazi and Lari merchants, who send
boats across to their agents on the Trucial Coast, generally small craft.
Lately many people of Lingah have been attracted by the large profits to be
made, and small syndicates have been formed for the purpose of running small
consignments of arms.
There is a ready sale for good arms among the Arab tribes of Laristan,
and in Tangistan, but it is feared many of the rifles imported by Laris and
Evazis find their way to Yezd, into the hands of Afghans trading with that
place. As before, many Afghans have frequently passed through Lingah,
generally in couples, but it is noticed that now more of them move north in the
direction of Lar, where their market appears to be situated.
The Shaikhs of Charak and Mughu arc the worst offenders in allowing
their subjects to carry on this illicit but profitable trade. They have been
warned on many occasions by His Majesty’s Vice-Consul against implicating
themselves, but, apart from tho comfortable increase in revenue they un­
doubtedly derive, it is feared that any attempt at prevention on their part
would mean their unpopularity among the tribes in the interior, and danger
to themselves.
Altogether 57 slaves sought redress at the Vice-Consulate during the
year. Of these 22 wero granted manu­
Slaves.
mission; 30 applications were rejected,
and the remaining 5 cases are still pending investigation.
British India Steam Navigation Company.—In May the Company
n ..., T . . introduced considerable alterations in
their Mail Service to tho Gulf, which has
very greatly benefited Lingah. Fast mail steamers now call here weekly from
and to India, in addition to the fortnightly subsidiary service.
Messrs. Gray Paul & Co.—Mr. D. Hart has remained in charge of tho
firm throughout the year.
In the early part of the year the firm’s business was satisfactory, but
declined in the last half year, owing chiefly to the abnormal rise in the price
of sugar. The unsafety of the route to Lar greatly handicaps the firm’s busi­
ness.
Claims.—In May, claimants against the bankrupt estate of Gordhandas,
a Hindu trader formerly residing at Lingah, were paid their pro rata shares.
Only two claims against the estate still remain unpaid; one claimant cannot
be traced? while against the other there is a counter-claim of a British Indian
subject, which has not yet been settled.
Disputes.—Over a petty dispute about some jewelry, two British Indian
subjects living at Qais Island were imprisoned for two days by the Shaikh.
His Majesty’s Vice-Consul yisited Qais and found there was no cause for
such high-handed action. A written apology was given and the Shaikh was
made to pay a fine of Rs. 100, being the amount expended by the Hindu
traders at Qais who sent a speoial boat to Lingah reporting the incident.
Messrs. R. Wonckhaus & Co.—Mr. E. Randall, an Assistant in the firm,
was transferred to Basrah in March,
Foreign Intoreste.
since when the business has been carried
on alone by Herr H. Roscnfcld, who has been in chnrgo throughout the year.
A few years ago Lingah was the headquarters of the firm in tho Gulf, and,
besides the Manager, two, and sometimes three, European Assistants wero
employed. It is thought that the amount of trade dono by tho firm now
hardly justifies their existence hero.
Tn October it was gathered that this firm had obtained a concession from
tho Persian Government to mine the iron pvrites found at Khamir (cast
Lingah), but there seems to have been no truth in the report.