Page 101 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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The failure of rains and resultant crop-failure caused dire distress. Water
liad lo be imported from Mohnmmerah and Bombay and the whole peninsula had
1o draw drinking water from the wells at Bahmani (adjacent to the Imperial and
International Communications Company’s enclosure at licshire) and seven miles
from Bushire town.
Wheat and barley prices soared until the Municipality controlled the price,
and Bhoosa (wheat straw) was unobtainable.
After months of hard work and over a thousand telegrams to Tehran, the
Governor succeeded in getting permission for the free-of-trade-monopolv importa­
tion of cereals into the Gulf Ports.
Wheat from Kcrmanshah and grants-in-aid did not reach Bushire till
October.
Advances of seed-grain were made to the peasantry who had been for manv
months destitute and entirely dependent on the Buslurc Municipality for food
and lodging.
On Christmas eve the long-awaited rain fell and the prospects of a crop
during the coming spring were satisfactory.
Chamber of Commerce.—There was a Persian Chamber of Commerce con­
sisting of nine members. During the year they confined their small activities to
routine matters, such as the settling of disputes between merchants and the dis­
tribution of sugar and matches.

SECTION 4.
Military and Marine.
General.—Bushire maintains training establishments for the training of
(1) Conscripts for the Regular Army, and (2) Recruits for the Araniych (Road
Guard) Department. Large and excellent barracks were found at Bahmani
(adjacent lo the Telegraphs) in buildings once used by the British military
army of occupation.
Recruitment.—A Recruitment office was opened in January, and others
followed during the year. Each successive Recruiting Officer re-called and re­
examined the youths exempted from service, and naturally re-exemption entailed
a further donation by the candidate. Owing to bad health and other reasons
about sixty per cent, of the local youths of military age were exempted.
Persian Navy and Marine.—On the 29lli October Bushire Town welcomed
the arrival of the Persian Navy consisting of :—
Two Sloops of 930 tons Babr (Tiger).
Palang (Panther).
Four coastal patrol boats of 320
tons .. Chalibaaz (Falcon).
Cliahrokh (Condor).
Karkas (Vulture).
Simorgh (Phoenix).
The vessels had made an eventful, if slow, journey from Italy without calling
at Aden or Muscat as had been anticipated. They reached Bushire in time for
the arrival of II. I. M. the Shah on the 3rd November.
The Italian Naval officers and personnel were bitterly disappointed with
Persia as they had been told that they would find a wonderful country flowing
with milk and honey, with wine and its attendant delights, far better than they
had ever found in iialv. Their first port of call was Charbar, thence by Bandar
Abbas to Bushire and, later with II. I. M. the Shah, they proceeded to Molmm-
merah, where they anchored in the sweet waters of the Kanin River to find
themselves dependent on the kindness of the Anglo-Persian Oil 'Company for
material comforts, such as foodstuffs and drink.
The vessels have made periodical visits up and down the Persian side of the
Gulf both singly and in flotilla.
Soon after the’arrival of the fleet all tho Customs (Preventive) vessels
(motor and steam) wore transferred to the Naval Department with headquarters
at Mohnmmcrah.
Smugglers complain that (heir trade is somewhat affected by these changes.