Page 664 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1011. oa

Mb D. W. M. GUMBLEY’S REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE
DISTRICTS WITH WHICH HE IS CONCERNED.

I have the honour to submit a report on the condition of the country
between Biyaban and Gwodur for the year 1911.
Mir Haji has been the recognized Chief of the Biyaban District throueh-
tv out the year. His mild nature makes
him much too weak to be a successful
Governor in Mekran, and has led to his making frequent appeals to the
British Government for help against Barkat. Should we at any time oease
to uphold Mir Haji, Mir Barkat will without doubt depose him, in fact Mir
Bartat would have done so ere this had it not been that he fea»red our inter­
vention. The ill-feeling between them is of course due to the fact that Mir
Haji took over the Governorship of the District when Mir Barkat was
deported to Bushire at our instigation two years ago.
At the beginning of February Saiyid Abdul Rahim, one of Barkat’s
chief followers, murdered a slave of Mir Haji’s named Mattutah who had
brought a letter from Mir Haji to Barkat in Bashkard. Saiyid Abdul Rahim
accused the slave of being a spy.
Towards the end of March Barkat came down to Bahmadi with his
father-in-law, Ghoolam Husain, and a following of some three hundred
Bashkardis. He said he wished to come to an understanding with Govern­
ment On March 25th, Khan Sahib Dilmorad and Mustapha Khan were
therefore sent out to meet him, but they were unable to induce him to come
into the station as he said he was afraid he would be detained if he did so.
He appeared to think that a British representative would go out to Gaigan
to meet him; on finding that there was no likelihood of this, he left Bahmadi
saying he would return straight to Bashkard, but instead of doing so he
went into Biyaban where he looted the country between Karai and Sarzeh.
He used great violence, cutting the ear-rings from the women’s ears, pulling
the rings from their noses, burning their huts and clearing the country of
sheep, goats and cattle. Re told the inhabitants that he intended harassing
the country until he was recognized as Chief, and only those who followed
him would be immune.
At the end of May the Mekran Field Force, under Colonel Delamain,
landed at Sirik and destroyed some of the property belonging to Barkat and
his following in that part of Biyaban, as a punishment for his lawlessness.
They then marched to Poshak Pass which was held by some of Barkatfs
following. In the fighting which followed twelve of Barkat’s followers and
two sepoys were wounded. Unfortunately after taking the defile.the Force
retired; had they gone through Barkat and the whole of the property that he
had looted from Karai and Sarzeh would probably have fallen into their
hands. As it was Barkat spread a story that he had inflicted severe loss on
Sirkar, which caused them to return to the coast and embark as expeditxwsay
as possible. At the same time Barkat’s house at Jask was destroyed by the
117th Mahrattas under instructions from the Admiral. After these opera­
tions Barkat lived quietly at Joshder in Bashkard till September when Mar
on©
Haji wrote to say that he (Barkat) had gone to Dubben and had killed ‘
Shahdulla and his brother, and had wounded the former’s wife and looted
all their belongings. Shahdulla was engaged by Mr. Gregson at Gwaj as a
guide to the Force engaged there last April, and his murder is a direct act of
revenge for the assistance he then gave.
In the middle of September Mir Barkat wrote to Khan Sahib Dilmorad
expressing a desire to see me. He said he was afraid to come to Jask, but
would come to meet me between Jagin and Gabreg when I was encamped
there, if I would see him. With the approval of the Resident a reply was
sent guaranteeing that he would not be detained if he came in. A full
of our subsequent meeting was forwarded to you under my No. 26 of 22nd
October last.