Page 300 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

10 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

value of tho dhow and cargo amounted to Rs. 21,799. The Political Residont
in tho Persian Gulf demanded the sum of Us. 25,000 from tho Governor of the
Gulf Ports as compensation, and tho latter deputed the Deputy Governor of
Bandar Abbas to negotiate with Shaikh Kazkur of Gabandi, in whose jurisdic­
tion the outrage took place, for tho settlement of our claim. The negotiation*
as the result proved, was doomed to fa'lurc, as Shaikh Mazkur, who had
already flouted the Peraiau Government by not paying bis revenue for several
years, was not likely to disgorge except by coercion. Tho ease was still pending
at the end of tho yoar. °
Tho prospority of the Lingah District, as of the greater part of tho Shib
_ w T< _ . . . Kuh Coast, is chiefly dependent on the
pearl trade. Tim trade was practically
killed at the outbreak of tho "War with the result that money become extreme­
ly scarce and orders could not be placed for goods. There seems a very
poor prospect of a complete revival of trade for years to como.
That no bankruptcies were recorded since the outbreak of "War is due,
no doubt, to the conservative nature of the people, who do not yet seem to
realise the magnitude of the struggle and the vast expenditure of wealth,
which must keep the whole world from investing in such luxuries as pearls
for many years aftor the conclusion of the War, As soon, however, as the
position is fully realised, pearl dealers will bo called upon to repay the
advances made to (bom and the result will he many failures.
Before the entry of Turkey into the arena of the War, public feeling was
_ „ .... , _ . more or less indifferent as to the result,
c ®r. o i c& c . but with the advent of Turkey the general
fooling was decidedly against England and her Allies. The anti-British ten­
dency may be accounted lor among the Sunnis, who form the greater part
of the population, by their natural pro-Turk sympathies, and among the
Shiahs because of their hatred cf our Ally, Pcussia. There is yet another
section which is ill-disposed towards us consisting of those who have suffered
financially by our gun-running operations, and those who still bear us
a grudge for the part we have taken in the supression of the Slave Traffic.
The nows of the capture of Basrah, however, produced a marked change in the
situation.
Assistant Surgeon J. Johstonc, I.S31. D., continued in charge of the
Charitable Dispensary and Quarantine
Medical acd Quarantine
Operations throughout the year. He
retained his great popularity among the people rich and poor.
Only one case (imported) of plague was detected. The patient, a Hindu
from Dibai, recovered.
The total number of sick attended at the Charitable Dispensary was
2,072 as against 1,816 in 1913 and 947 in 1912. The prevailing diseases were
malarial fevers, oiseases of the digestive system, and diseases of the eye.
As the result of an accident the Oman dhow Fath-ul-Khair ” was sunk
by H. M. S “ Dalhousie,” in October,
Mlictllaneoo*.
oil Eeshire. No lives were lost and the
crow were brought by the “ Dalhousie ” to Lingah, whence they were
despatched by mail steamer to Maskafc. No blame attaches to the “ Dal*
housie M gs the accident occurred at night and the dhow was showing »°
lights
A school maintained by public subscriptions was started in Lingah in
July. The Headmaster, Abdul Muhammad Nomazi, is a Persian educated
in India
W. R. HOWSON,
R. B. M.’t Vice-Consul and Assistant Resident,
Jjingah'