Page 661 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER V.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE PERSIAN MEKRAN COAST
FOR THE YEAR 1911.

Mr. H. Whitby Smith was in Political charge of the Mekran Coast np to
the afternoon of 10th March 1911 when he proceeded on leave. He was
relieved by Mr. R. C. Campbell who held charge up to the afternoon of 18th
July, the date of his retirement, when Mr. R. C« Barker, C.I.E., assumed
charge.
Persian Baluchistan was, considering the condition of other parts of
Persia during the year, quiet. The
GtneraL
chief feature of the year under report
was the great decrease in the quantity of arms and ammunition imported
into Persian Mekran. This was due to the blockade admirably maintained
by the Royal Navy. In spite of this, arms in very small quantities, have
found their way into the interior. The Afghans, having lost heavily in
previous years, did not come to the coast in such numbers as was contemplated
at the commencement of the year. Such as came employed themselves in
purchasing arms from the Baluchis; they obtained a very small number as
compared with previous years. The arms smuggled by Baluchis from
Maskat passed through Karwan in the jurisdiction of Sardar Islam Khan
of Bint. Saidar Saiyid Khan imported at the beginning of the year, with
the permission of the British authorities, 50 rifles and pistols and 40,000
rounds of ammunition. He again sought permission to import further arms
but was only given permission to import 25 rifles and 5,000 rounds. Not
being satisfied with this number, he returned the permit to the Director,
Persian Gulf Telegraphs. Mir Din Muhammad Khan and Mir Mahmud
Khan, joint Chiefs of Dashtiari District, and Mir Ashraf Khan and Mir
Ahmed Khan of Bahoo District were, with the permission of the Political
Resident, Bushire, respectively allowed to import 14 rifles, 6 pistols and
4.0CO rounds of ammunition; eight rifles and 1,600 rounds; two rifles with'
the usual proportion of cartridges, also 200 revolver cartridges and five rifles
and 1,000 rounds with which to protect the telegraph lino passing through
their country.
In February, Jalal Khan, Chief of Gwetter, wrote for compensation for
the death of a Persian subject killed by a shot fired from one or the preven­
tive cotters at a dhow in which he was employed, under the impression that
the dhxiw was smuggling arms. After a long correspondence, the sum of
Rs. 150 was paid'by Major Craufurd, Intelligence Officer at Jask, to the
family of the deceased through the Clerk in Charge, Charbar.
In August, Sardar Din Muhammad Khan asked for the extradition of
a murderer, one Aloo-bin-Khudabux,
Arrest.
who had bolted to Karachi after com­
mitting the crime. Men sent by the Sardar to Karachi to identify the crimi­
nal returned to Charbar unsuccessful.
Rupees 400, his share of the loot, was recovered from Mir Din Mahara­
ja mad on account of a piracy committed,
y’ in 1910, by Mir Nawab Khan of Bahoo
and Din Muhammad’s servants on Arab boats belonging to the subjects of
His Highness the Sultan of Maskat, and remitted to tie Political Agent,
Maskat, for payment to the victims. Nothing has been recovered from Mir
Nawab Khan though efforts were made to get a like amount from him.
No claim out of those proved and adjudicated on in meetings held at
Charbar, in 1905 and 1906, was settled
CUUQB.
by the Chief of any one of the districts.
The particulars of these claims were wired to His Britannic Majesty’s
Legation at Tehran at their request. Fresh claims are coming in. While