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10      ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL


                              Muhnmmed bin Abdullah bin Hasan was appointed the first Turkish Con.
                          solar Agent at lingah.
                              No changes of importance took place among the minor Governors of
                          districts.
                              In May 1891 the Il-Khani was placed in charge of the Kashkais, Darab
                          Khan, the former Il-Begi, dying the following month. The Il-Khani did not
                          long Burvive him, and died in January last; the headship has since been con­
                          ferred on Nasr-ullah Khan. It was sapposed that the Government in.
                          tended dividing the tribe into four sections and appointing a Ketkhoda for each,
                          but this has not been done. Husein Khan Babarloo having escaped from the
                          fort of Jerash whence he was imprisoned, began raiding the villages of Darab
                          and Fasa, many robberies being also committed near Shiraz by men of the
                          Babarloo tribe. A force was 6ent against him from Shiraz, and a portion of It
                          deserted to him, but he was eventually captured and taken to Shiraz, where he
                          still ia.
                              In December 1891 a disturbance took place on board the British India
                          Steam Navigation Company’s S.S. Kilwo from Bnsliire to Lingah, some Arab
                          syces attacking the officers of the ship. She fortunately overtook H.M.8.
                          Redbreast, whose commander sent an armed party on board and removed the
                          ringleaders who were afterwards tried at Bombay and punished.
                              . In January 1891 a bugalow owned by British ‘Indian subjects anchored
                          near Kishm, the greater portion of the crew going ashore. During their
                          absence $528 and $1,070 were stolen. The Persian authorities on receipt of a
                          complaint suspected the Arab crew of a boat belonging to Hanriyeh on the
                          pirate coast. They were arrested and sent to Bushire. After some delay the
                          case was referred to the Shara Court at Lingah which acquitted the prisoners,
                          so they were releasod and their property was returned to them. It was after-
                          weds asserted, apparently not without reason, that some of the crew of the
                          bugalow were the thieves.
                              In spite of an excellent harvest in the plain country the export of grain,
                          from Pars and ite ports was prohibited in June last, but all contracts entered
                          into before the passing of the order were allowed to be carried out.
                              An attempt was made by the customs fanner to levy ground rent on goods
                          detained more than fifteen days in the custom-house, but it met with strenuous
                          opposition from the merchants of Shiraz, and had to be abandoned.
                              The prohibition against the importation of arms and ammunition into
                          Persian territory was reiterated in July last, a large *trade in rifles for sale in the
                          interior having been apparently discovered by the Persian Government.
                              The native merchants at Shiraz started an opposition to the Imperial Bank
                          of Persia, but without any prejudicial effect on the Bank.
                              Strong opposition having been manifested in various quarters, chiefly by
                          the Mollaha, to the tobacco concession, it was withdrawn by the Persian Gov­
                          ernment in December 1S91-.
                               In consequence of reports of cholera at Mecca, quarantine was imposed on
                           arrivals from the Hedjaz and Yemen. A quarantine station was established,
                           and cargo from Jedda was fumigated. Fortunately the epidemic did not visit
                           Bushire.
                               Influenza and small-pox were very prevalent in the island of Kishm, and
                           many deaths occurred.
                                                                                           The*
                               Locusts have appeared in large numbers in Kirman and other parts. ^
                           crops in the plain districts have been very poor, and the price of grain has risen;
                           it will probably do so much more, and the general outlook is gloomy.
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