Page 302 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

18 TKRSIAN CULP ADMINISTRATION B.EPORT
the male portion of the population to man tho local fort or flee to the bill.
On the whole, however, the continuance of tho normal state of affaire 1*9
undoubtedly having a calming and reassuring effect on the inhabitant#*. :
Tho winter rains had completely failed up to tlio end of the year ; an early
rainfall in October gave promise of a good harvest but no further rain fell, nnJ
tho outlook for tho poorer classes was a black 011c, as tho failure of tho
rains tended to raise still further the prices of goods, which were already
abnormal on account of tho War.
Parlies of Geudavmorie under Swedish officers visited Bandar Abbas
from Kerman in April, Juno and October. It was originally proposed that they
should establish posts along the Bandar Abbas-Korman Trade Route, and that
the two places should bo linked up by a tolograph lino during the autumn,
but the project did not mature, chiefly on account of the War.
The greater security of the Trade Routes found an immediate reflex in the
trade returns, those for the Persian
Trala. year
ending on the 20th March 1014 k showing
•an increase of 31 per cent, in imports over those of the preceding year. The
returns for the first quarter of the Persian year 1914-15 again showed a
steady increase over those of the corresponding period of tho year
before; the outbreak of the European War, however, at once paralysed
trade : no shipments were received from Europe, and but few from India
as the mail 6crvico was at once reduced and freights rose. Some merchants
who hold stocks at the outbreak of War realised handsome profits as the prices
of almost all the ordinary articles of commerce went up. Onco the existing
stocks were exhausted, business came almost entirely to a standstill; but very
small quantities of goods were received by sea or from the interior. The
Persian merchants expressed consternation at the cessation of trade, and with
their small financial backing aud extensive credit system it was obvious that
many of them would bo hard hit. The Hindus on the other hand faced the
situation with equanimity, and, while admitting that business was slack,
appeared to have no anxiety about the future.
The general attitude of tho populace towards the combatants in (he "War
was mainly coloured by Russophobia.
The War.
They displayed no hostility at the com­
mencement of the War to Great Britain, but pro-German reports, emanating
chiefly from Basrah, coloured all their views, and their entiro ignorance of
evea the rudiments of geography obtained credence for the most absurd
rumours. To counteract these, Captain Biscoe, from time to time, gave brief
lectures on the War to the British Indian community, who displayed consider­
able interest and subscribed liberally to tho Indian Relief Fund, and summaries
of Reuter’s telegrams were circulated in Persian and English. The entry of
Turkey into the arena, however, naturally aroused the sympathies of the
Muliaramadan population, but even then it took the form rather of lending
a ready ear to tales of Turkish successes than of a display of hostility to Great
Britain. The capturo of Basrah came as a great blow, and for a long time
afterwards tales of its reoocupation by the Turks were daily spread abroad
and eagerly believed.
The Hamburg-Amerika line paid 8 calls here, the last being in July, an^
brought 18,720 packages. The vessels 01
Foreign Interest*.
the Russian Steam Navigation 0oinpaD7
•called 5 times.
Assistant Surgeon Smith, I.S.M.D., held the post of Quarantine Medical
Officer till the 1st August, when bo
Quarantine.
relieved by Assistant Surgeon H. '0. .
from Jask, who continued in charge up to tho end of the year. The Ohanto
Dispensary was well attended aud is a popular and rccoguised institution.
JJis Majesty’s Consul visited Rudan in January; tho Clar6®??
Straits up to Khaniir in February,
Joan,
Bassidu and Henjara in Juno.