Page 71 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

BE8IDENCY FOR THE TEAR 1005-1008. 61

Customs (under whoso auspices the building was being erected) was due in a
groat measure to the support, moral, if not aotual, of my Russian colleague.
Tito position therefore now i9 that, though connection is complete, no office
has yet boon opened to the public owing to the childish objections of the
Persian Government
Tours.—In connection with the collection of information for the new
Persian Gulf Gazetteer a fair amount of touring was done at the beginning
of 1905, the Assistant Resident making one tour in February of tbe Islands of
Hormuz, Larak and Hen jam. Early in March another tour was made by
way of the main caravan route to Kerman through Shainilat, Bouth to Minab,
and back to Bunder Abbas In April a tour westwards into Bastak territory,
south to Khamir with a visit to Bassidu and back to head-quarters. In
August a tour northwards in search of a possible summer resort was made,
but though Kuh-i-Ginao and the foot-hills of Kuh-i-Parghun were visited no
suitable place was found. The thermometer between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. during
this tour usually averaged about 105° Farenheit or more, even at an altitude
of 2,700 feet.
Navy and Marine.—His Excellency Rear-Admiral Atkinson 'Willes in
the flagship Hyacinth and accompanied by His Majesty’s Ships Hedbreast and
Proserpine visited Hormuz in the course of his annual tour in April 1905,
but did not call actually at Bunder Abbas.
His successor in the command of the East Indies Squadron, Vice-Admiral
Sir Edmund Poe, visited Bunder Abbas in March of the following year,
remaining in port two days in His Majesty’s Ship Hermes.
In addition to the above-named vessels His Majesty’s Ships Fox and
Sphinx visited the port at various times.
The R. I. M. S. Lawrence and the I. G. T. S. Patric Stewart with
tbe Political Resident and the Director uf Persian Gulf Telegraphs also
called during the tours of these officers.
No foreign vessels of war entered the port.
Foreign Representatives.—Up to the 14th February 1906 Russia had been
represented by a Consular Agent, iu the person of a Persian by name Mahomed
Ali the Sadid-us Suitan*h. On this date the first Prussian Consul for Bunder
Abbas, Monsieur G. Owseenko, arrived from Russia via Meshed, Seistan,
Kerman and Regan and was accorded a very cordial and ceremonious official
reception. It was nor, however, until a month after his arrival that the Czar's
representative officially informed his British colleague of ills appointment to
Bunder Abbas M. Owseenko is well-known throughout Persia, having estab­
lished tne Russian Consulate at Bushire and served at Baghdad and Seistan.
No other power is represented at this port
At Lingah a Persian represents France as Consular Agent; and to
another Persian, Mahomed biu Abdulah Khwajah, whom the Persian
Government refuses to recognise, are entrusted Turkish interests.
Lieutenant W. H. I. Shakespear, I.A., has held charge of the office of
Assistant Resident and His Britannic Majesty’s " Consul throughout the year.
Agha Badr bin Mahomed Amin has also continued in charge of tbe British
Agency at Lingah during the same period.

W. H. I. SHAKESPEAR, Lieutenant,
{Me) Assistant Resident and His Britannic Majesty's
Consul at Bunder Abbas.
Britibh Consulate,
Masqat j
The 15th Augut 1906.