Page 295 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

TOR THE YEAR 1014. 11
Tho problem seems likely to bo left to settle itself, as economical con­
siderations compel tho withdrawal of the Gendarmerie and, if the subsidies to
the Khans are left unpaid, there is little doubt that the levy or Bahdari will
recommence.
In 1911, Ghazanfar-us-Sultanch, the Khan of Borasjun, arrested two of
his relatives, headmen of the Borasjun
Interference of Qoudsmiorio in Tribal Affairs.
village of Kulul, on a charge of plotting
against him. These men havo ever sinco been kept in chains by him m. spite
of the recommendations and remonstrances of Ismail Khan, Khan of Shahban-
jearch, to whom they are also related. As a result of this action of the Ghazan-
far, his wife, a daughter of Ismail Khan, left her husband and with her young
son returned to her father.
Negotiations for reconciliation and exchange had several times been carried
on ineffectually, when suddenly, at the end of June 1914, the Governor-General
of Pars, who had entrusted the conduct of affairs of Dashti and Daslitistan, of
which Shahbankareh and Borasiun form part, to the Governor of the Gulf
Ports, issued orders to Ismail Khan through tho Gendarmerie officers for the
immediate surrender of his daughter and grandson to Ghazanfar. These were
followed by the appearance of Gendarmerie officers, acting on orders from
their Swedish Commandant, and then a force of 100 Gendarmes at Sa’dabad,
Isinail Khan’s chief village, with orders to coerce him. The Khan was power­
less and evacuated the village, leaving his daughter to he carried off by the
Gendarmes to Borasjun. The Khan complained bitterly of the action to
Mr. Edmonds, Acting British Vice-Consul, when on tour shortly after, and,
in view of the friendly attitude of the. Shahbankarch Khans to the Residency
and this injudicious interference and partizansbip in tribal quarrels by a force
which has repeatedly been told to confine itself strictly to policing th e road,
tho Resident considered it necessary to make strong protests to Shiraz and
Tehran. At Shiraz, however, far from excusing himself, Colonel Uggla, by
stipulating for conditions involving a surrender of territory by Ismail Khan,
made the only suitable reparation, the release of Ismail Khan’s relations impri­
soned by the Ghazaufar impossible.
As a part of tho general installation of Wireless Telegraphy in the Persian
Gulf, Mr. Superintendent McNeill of the
Wireless Telegraph Ir.slallatico at Reshire.
Indo-European Telegraph Department ar­
rived at Busliire to erect the necessary apparatus at Reshire in early December,
but had to leave immediately for Abadan, where the w’Ork was more urgent.
Before the close of the year, however, work was well started at Reshire.
Eight slaves were manumitted during the year:— 5 from the Truoial
Coast, 1 from Lingah and 2 at Bahrain.
Manumission of Slaves.
The result of the daily observations at Bushire are recorded in Tabular
Statements Nos. 1 and 2 attached.
Meteorological Observatory.
S. G. KNOX, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Officer on special duty in the absence of the Resident.
Bushire,
The 23rd January 1915. ]

[iVofs.—The aboro report wai written by Lieutenant-Colonel S. G. Knox, but tbs fair copy wii not
•igned by him beforo bo left for Basrah.
A. P. TREVOR, Majob,
Officer on special duty.