Page 659 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

57 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF

twenty days’ notice was obtained from the Acting Governor and the firm, thus
reassured, resumed payments and the weavers left the Consulate.
No traveller passed through the Con~
VieitorH.
sular District during the year.
The Post Office has been working under grave disadvantages. There is
little fault to be found with the system,
I’oala,
but the numerous robberies of posts on
both the northern and southern roads and the detention of posts cn route for
fear of robbers have seriously inconvenienced merchants and all having
correspondence with Europe, India, and other parts of Persia. The provincial
post office was much neglected by the head of the department in Tehran, and
at one time in the year the Postmaster complained that for five months neither
he nor his staff had received any pay, nor had the contract allowance for tht
carriage of the posts between Kerman and Yczd been paid. He telegraphed
to Tehran that the postal service could not be continued under these condi­
tions and that he proposed to close the post office. This action resulted in
the issue of orders for the payment of arrears, but it is discreditable to the
Persian Government that it can be induced to pay for the maintenance of a
department only by the threat of a strike.
It is still more discreditable to the Persian Government that it caunot be
persuaded to fulfil its agreements. In November and December 1910 sums of
money, amounting to Krans 23,100, the property of Hindu merchants of
Kerman, were robbed from the post between Bandar Abbas and Kerman.
The parcels of cash were insured by the Government which, having first de­
manded a delay of six months under the Persian Postal Law, have since taken
no aotion in the case, though it has frequently been pointed out that the col­
lection of insurance fees without the intention of meeting just claims for loss
is hardly to be distinguished from obtaining money by false pretences.
The working of the Telegraph Department has been satisfactory in the
face of difficulties. The Inspector of the
00gnip '' sixth sub-section was much delayed
in his tour between Kerman and Anar by bands of robbers on the Yezd road,
the local authorities having failed to fulfil their promise of increasing his
escort.
The payment of the mounted escort supplied by the Persian authorities
for tho protection of the Telegraph Office and Officers at Daha-yi-Baghu has
been the source of continual trouble throughout the year. In spite of repeated
promises to pay them regularly, the local authorities have from time to time
allowed their pay to fall into arrears for two and three monthss and it was
only with the greatest difficulty, after threats of desertion by the sowars and
on one occasion, a threat that they would help themselves from the Telegraph
cash chest, that it was possible to obtain payment of the arrears.
Mr. Fenn of the Telegraph Department, travelling to Kerman on transfer
from Tehran, was twice robbed on the road, once between Tehran and Yezd
and again between Yezd and Kerman.
Mr. Gabler, travelling on transfer vid Bandar Abbas to Bam, was twioe
fired at, but fortunately not hit, by Buchaqchi sowars in the employ of the
Persian Government, near Bam. The sowars excused themselves on the plea
that they took him for a Baluch, but as he was only 250 yards distant when
they fired, this excuse cannot be accepted, and as Mr. Gabler has received no
apology a claim for compensation has been presented.
Tho condition of the roads throughout the year has been deplorable.
Roada. Of the three principal routes between
Kerman and Bandar Abbas, the Sirian
and Baft roads have been infested by Buchaqchis and Afshars and by Bahar-
lus and other robbers from Fars; and the Jiruft road, usually reputed the
safest of the threo, has been infested by Baluchis and other robbers. Buchaa-
chis and Baluchis have also infested the roads between Kerman and Bam
and robbers from Fars tho roads between Kerman and Yezd. Robberies have
been numerous on all roads, and the Hindu merchants have suffered severely
The increased activity of Buchaqchis was attributed by popular rumour.