Page 670 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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and by the end of the year the peasantry apparently tired of waiting for the autho­
rities to act, had taken matters into their own hands and lost no opportunity to
murder road guards unfortunate enough to be caught alone.

DISARMAMENT OF THE TRIBES.
Little progress was made in disarmament and the tribes in Dashti and
Tangistan are believed to have captured more rifles from the road guards than the
road guards have seized from them.

NAVY.
Ghulam Ali Bayendor, who remained in command of the Iranian Navy
throughout the year, was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.
Iranian gunboats paid periodical visits to Bushire.
In the month of October a reception was held to mark the inauguration of the
new Bushire Light House which is in the charge of the Naval Authorities.
Lieut.-Commander Zclli, Officer in Charge of the Naval Bureau at Bushire,
left for Bandar Slmhpur.
During the year efforts were made to register all local sailing craft.

SECTION 5.
AVIATION.
British.—No British aeroplane visited Bushire during the year.
Eight aeroplanes belonging to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company called at
Bushire during 1940.
Foreign.
French.—The Air France service was discontinued in June 1940.
Dutch.—The K. L. M. mail service ceased to call at Bushire in July 1940.

SECTION 6.
POLITICAL SITUATION.
The 8ub-Govemorships at Ahram, Khormuj and Kangan were abolished in
the month of November for reasons of economy. The duties previously performed
by the Governors are now being carried out by subordinate officials under the
direct supervision of the Governor of Bushire. This arrangement is understood
to be unsatisfactory both from the administrative and executive point of view.
The exactions of the executive officials are tending to increase the feelings of
hostility with which the tribes have always regarded the Government authorities,
aud there has been a serious increase in the number of open clashes between road
guards or police officials and parties of discontented tribesmen. In one instance,
reported in December, 20 road guards are believed to have been killed.
A Dashti tribal chief, Ali Ismail, has caused the authorities considerable
trouble throughout thp year. With a following of 300 men he came off best in
several encounters with Government troops, ana eventually all idea of suppressing
him by military action was given up and diplomacy resorted to. Even in diplo­
macy All Ismail seems to have come off best, for though he had to surrender 50
old rifles he remains free and is understood, at one time or another, to have taken
a good many more than 50 rifles from Government troops who have been sent out
against him.
In Bushire town itself conditions were even worse than last year. This is duo
partly to hick of employment owing to the decrease in the number of ships calling
at Bushire, and partly to the increased prices in nearly all essential foodstuffs.