Page 412 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

58 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

Natliudai. This chief also wrote faying there were no rifles. procurable at Hint; quite
possibly this was true, but at the fame time he avoided referring to other parts of his
province where it is known that the Afghans collected a large number of arms and correspond­
ing quantities of ammunition between Jan nary and May.. The number of rifles is said to
have exceeded 400, adding this nnmtar to the COO imported on 7th April 1916 and 21afc
May 1915 it can bo assumed that over 1,000 rifles, majority of which wore Martinis of sorts,
have left the country on different dates during the season under report. That suitable
weapons ar« procurable in the country and can be imported without much difficulty ia proved
by the number of Afghans engaged in the trade ns it is very improbable these men would go
to tho expense and undergo the hardships of a long journey overland unless they wera
absolutely certain of making the business a paying one.
During January and Febraary over 400 Sovereigns were brought to the Charbar
bazaar by Baluchis from the interior who were willing to exchange them for silver at a
discount and a good many more would have come in if the supply of silver had not run out
owing to slackness in trade. It is believed IluO odd Sovereigns found their way to Gwadur
and Maskat in consequence. Gold coinage could only have been brought into tho country
by the Afghans and it is apparent tbo traffic in arms during tho half-year has been fairly
brisk, the traders and all concerned in the trado taking full advantage of the withdrawal
of the blockade.
It was reported on 2nd February that four Afghans left Tank for Debai in a Baluch
boat, Nakhuda Rnhmullab, and it ia said these men were responsible for the successful!
landings at Giriskin cn flth April 1915 and at Sadaich on 24th May 1915 where they were
met by their friends who had been waiting in the neighbourhood for their return.
A party of Afghans, numbering about 30, quarrelled amongst themselves at a village
a few miles north of the telephone station at Rapeh, on the 24th January, and in a fight
which ensued one man was killed anu another severely wounded. The wounded man was taken
to Jnsk accompanied by six of his comrades and, on nearing that station, the injured man
was escorted to the buildings by one of the party whilst the others retired on to old Jask. Their
presence at that placer was notified to Mir Burkat of 13iaban who happened to be in the
vicinity and he immediately had them arrested and sent in to tho authorities who deported
them to India. '1 he injured man and his companion were detained for the time being and
deported on the recovery of the former.
Four Afghans named Khan Muhammad, Abdullah Khan, Wilayat Shah and Sadu
Khan left Karachi early in January by a native boat for Charhar. On their arrival at that
place they were arres'.ed and detained. The party stated their objective was Baghdad to
which place they intended proceeding after paying their respects to Khalifa Khair Muhammad
at Bint,,they swore they had absolutely do concern in the arms traffic. On the difficulties
of a journey being rvpresented they begged to be allowed to pay their respects to the Khalifa,
after which they promised to return. The men were carefully searched and a sum of
Rs. 307 and about b9 krans were found divided among the party. The Folitical authorities
having no objection to their visiting the Khalifa at Bint, Rs. 15 was advanced to each to
meet.expenses, the balance of the money being detained as security for their return.
Nothing has been heard of the party since and it can bo assumed they were concerned in
the arms trade and thought it advisable to return overland to their hornos instead of risking
doing so viS Charbar and Karachi It is quite probable these men travelled to the Mckran
ttd Karachi instead of following the usual route as it is much shorter and more comfortable
and that the bulk of the money they intended to invest in arms was - sent by another
route.
Nine Afghans also found their way into the Mekran v%& Gwadur in Janaary last.
These men landed at Gwadur from a native boat and possibly, owing to a lack of vigilance
on the part of the authorities at that place, were allowed to proceed unmolested. The
telephone stations en route reported their presence and movements daily and all arrangements
to have them arrested in tbo event of the party calling at Charbar were made, but after
reaching Kenj (IS miles East of Charbar) the Afghans proceeded direct to Parag (15 miles
west of Charbar and disappeared travelling in a north-westerly direction.
The Afghan traders in the country were in no way concerned in the destruction
of the Telegraph line between Jask and Ubarbar and also in the attack on the station at
the latter place. "When called upon to assist they stated that they were in the country for
trading purposes and added that when their business was complete it was their intention to
return homo as quickly as possible.
From the attached statement of arms landed during tho half-year it will be found
that out of ten consignments five were landed in Sirdar Islam Khan's district, two in Sirdar
Saiyid Khan's, two in Mir Mustapha Khan of Jusk and one unknown. The two subsidised
chiefs have done nothing to prevent the importation of arms and as far as 1 can see they
never have in the smallest way used their influence on our behalf. The payment of Its. fcOO
annually to each 8irdar commenced in 1911, the agreement was for fivo years terminating
io 1915, and I recommend that after the settlement of subsidies for the current year further
payments should cease.
A statement showing the approximate number of arms and ammunition imported
dnriog the half year is attached.

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