Page 653 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

C1IAPTLR III.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE BANDAR ABBAS VICE
CONSULATE FOR THE YEAR 1911.

It is in some ways satisfactory to note that there have been fewer events
meriting notice in the past year at
General.
Bandar Abbas than during 1910.
Events worthy of notice are usually synonymous with disturbances in the
present condition of Persia, since progress there is none, and on the whole the
year 1911 has been less eventful locally than 1910. Far removed and isolated
from all centres of political activity, events in other parts of Persia re-echo
but faintly here, and the inhabitants of the place display but slight interest
in anything but local topics. The bulk of the lower classes and about half of
the merchants are Sunnis, and there is a large admixture of Arab, Baluchi
and Negro blood in every stratum of society, so that both religious and racial
ties arc very weak.
The year opened with a state of chronic disturbances in Shamil, and of
robberies of caravans in the passes on the
Trade Routes.
boundaries of Bandar Abbas jurisdic­
tion. These lasted till the middle of April, when the increasing heat put an
end to them. Advantage was taken of this to send a considerable amount of
merchandise up into the interior, and an unusual number of caravans for the
time of year left Bandar Abbas during May and June.
The following is the lift of robberies of British-owned goods that occurred
during the first four months of the year on the Bandar Abbas-Kerman trade
route :—
January.—The post was robbed at Galoo Anjir in Fars, and 26 bags
of specie, valued at 34,000 Krans, belonging to Hindus were
carried off.
16th February.—A caravan was robbed at Baghu, and 35 donkey loads
of goods, valued at 8,632 Krans, belonging to Hindus were car­
ried off.
24th February.—A caravan was robbed at Gudar-i-Surkh on the bound­
ary between Bandar Abbas and Kerman jurisdiction, and
British goods to the value of 5,210 Krans were carried off.
2nd March.—A consignment of opium being sent to Minab was carried
off : value 2,625 Krans.
12th March.—A caravan was robbed at Tang-i-Navergoo, also on the
boundary between Bandar Abbas and Kerman, and British
goods to the value of 54,300 Krans were carried off.
11th April.—A second robbery occurred at Gudar-i-Surkh and goods
valued at 2,600 Krans were carried off.
After this the trade routes continued fairly safe till the end of August
when an incursion of Baharlus took place. His’Uajesty's Consul was then at
Karachi, and owing to various rumours of a threatened attack on the town,
H. M. S. “ Perseus ” and “ Espiegle ” arrived : the Consular Guard was also
temporarily reinforced from Jask. On the return of His Majesty’s Consul,
however, it was ascertained that the current reports were considerably exag­
gerated, and that the Baharlus had contented themselves with robbing a
caravan and carrying off some herds and crops from villages in the Shamil
district.
British goods to the value of 31,561 Krans were stolen on this occasion

camped with k large number of armed followers in Shamil. Merchants in