Page 540 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

22 ANNUAL RETORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
rate of exchange), Kcro3ino from 5-7 Krans to 9-10 Krans per man (equiv-
lent to about Its 23 per 4-gallon tin).
Mu,ch inconvenience was also caused in the town by the high price of
firewood, which partly owing to shortage of transport and partly to tbo
enormous consumption by the South Persia Rifles (10 Kharwars a day) »rose
to 30—32 Krans per Kbarwar or roughly Rs. 2-4 per Indian maund.
The province was remarkably free from internal disturbances during the
year under report, in spite of the scarcity
Dutuibancoi.
and the efforts of the Democrats de­
scribed above. In the west of the province the outlawed Hussain Khan
Bucbaqchi with Shahzada Hussain and the Turkish “ Ambassador ” Obeid.
ulla managed to evade the efforts made by the Saidabad garrison to capture
them. They took refuge at first in Kuhisian on the Faro side of the border
later among the fastnesses of the Chehar Gumbaz range and were
no doubt in regular communication with the Germau and Austrian
c^-prisonere in Fare and with Wassmuss at Ahram. Although, how­
ever Hussain Khan’s brothers, Murad Khan Shikuh-us*Sult3n and Bahman
Agha and other Buchaqchis at Saidabad undoubtedly helped him Becretly
while professing eternal friendship with the British the Buchaqchi tribe
as a whole was quiet, and the rebels did not dare to repeat their attempt on
Saidabad of the previous September. In August they made their way via. Yezd
territory to Tehran where they were received with open arms by the anti-British
party. This lack of enterprise on the part of our enemies of the year before
was undoubtedly due to the march through the province of the Shiraz Rein­
forcements CoLurnn, in February acd March, and to the strengthening of the
SeHabad garrison from it. The Column, which consisted of 20 British officers,
4-S British Kon-Commirsioned Officers and 1,400 Indian Officers and men of the
16th Rajputs, Burma Mounted Infantry and miscellaneous details, reached
Saidabad in two echelons on ISih and 24th if arch respectively. Half of the
Burma Mounted iLf-antry were left there, and the town was shortly afterwards
made the headquarters of the Yllh South Persia Rifles Infantry.
flermashir, Jvrvfl and Rzidbar suffered as usual from the incursions and
general turbulence of the neighbouring Baluch. At the beginning of the year
the Governor of Bam was forced to enrol 150 levies in addition to the 100
already kept up for the defence and policing of Bam and Narmashir. Apart
from ordinary Baluch lawlessness, the chief feud of the early part of the year
was betwecnBahram Khan of Bam pur and Nawab Khan BamerL This began
with the killing of tvro of Bzhram Khan's kinsmen by Jallal Khan, son of Nawab
Khan, in December, and in February Bahrain Khan, accompanied by Jihand
and Sbabsmrar Khan (the leaders of the 1913 invasion), entered Narmashir
with a strong force asd worsled the Bamcris first near Righan and again at
Rig-i-Sistani. Oae cf NawzJb Khan?s sons was killed and another seriously
wounded, and his fort at Chah Digal was besieged. Bahram Khan eventually
returned to Baiucbisfcsx with targe quantities of loot, but one of the chiefs who
accompanied him, Waif Muhammad Khan, shortly afterwards fought Jallal
Khan on his own account and again raided Narmashir and Jiruft about the
middle of April. He was helped by Juma Bahadur of Shah Wali Bor and
the raid assumed dangerous proportions. The levies of: the Bam Governor,
however,;heldvthe passes of the' Jebel Barez. range, and Wali Muhammad after
looting Jiruft and Rudbar returned' to Bam pur.
For the rest of the summer peace reigned, except for the ambushing of
one of Bahrain Khan’t caravans by Zaman Khan, eon of Nawab Khan, id
July, and an abortive attempt by Islam Khan to invade Bampur with forces
from Kcch Mekran in August During the latter half of the year the people
of Bam and Karmashir enjoyed a security of life and property to which they
had long been unaccustomed. • ..
The only other event of importance during the year was a feud betwee
Islam Khan and his bi others Mirza Khan and Saheb Khan over the
the Baluchistan Khalisajafc revenues. I*lam Khan's brothers called in Bahra
Jfhan against him, and a battle was fought in August at Bint in which can