Page 142 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

4 PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORT
Throughout the 60uth, it is believed among all classes that the Gondarm
is tho special protege of His Majesty’s Government, and their mistakes, jf
occur, ore laid to our charge. such
The doings of tho Turkish Consulate, a curiously unnecessary instituf
. at this port and duo to Sunni 1^
n*ft * afforded some mild interest during
year and Lingah has been unfortunate in not sharing, with tho rest of n
Persian Gulf Ports, in the improvement that time seems to havo been gradual
bringing about in the relations between His Majesty’s representatives and ty
Customs administration. A decrease in arms ^smuggling is noticed and ft-6
satisfactory that His Majesty’s Vice-Consul anticipates a considerable improv**
inent in trado from tho successful expedition of tho Kawam-ul-Mulk a^ainl*
tho Laris.
Lirgah was successful in securing the culprits in two flagraut cases of
piracy, committed against Kuwait dhows.
Bandar Abbas sounds a cheerful note; there has been greater security amj
Indian merchants have had a fairly'p^.
Bandar Abba*.
perous year. It is always a matter for
congratulation when a Persian Governor is able to remain at lus post for 12
months and the Deputy Governor, Shuja-i-Nizam, appears well suited to th
rather backward district he is called to administer. Pandar Abbas seems also
to have cause for self-congratulation in its last Director of Customs, and it a
a pleasure to note the cordial relations between both these officials and His
Majesty’s Consul. Tho report is however compelled to record the robbery atd
maltreatment, in the month of February, of Mr. Greene of the Karachi Exten­
sion Railway by Baharlus within 30 miles of the town of Bandar Abbas itself,
while a similar attempt was made, one month later, by a more formidable bard
of the same tribesmen. On this occasion, the survey party were forewarned
and forearmed and gave the raiders a warm reception. But before these
marauders would quit the district, it was again found necessary to land British
forces.
In the interests of British trade, Captain Biscoe draws attention to the
srying need for cheap telegraphic communication with the interior, a matter
which has the attention of the Government of India.
There seems to be no chance of any arrangement being come to between
Messrs. Strick and Messrs. Ellinger over
Hormuz Oxide.
the matter.
The Moin has been very troublesome over the fulfilment of Messrs. Strick’i
contract
Coal has been landed at Henjam from time to time without raising anj
comment from the Persian Government.
Coal at Henja*.
The two important events of the year in Kerman have been the reorgani-
KtnxauL eation of the revenue department under
J ^ European control, and the entry of a fon*
of Persian Gendarmerie on the scene* A« regards the first, Captain Lorimtf
is bold enough to predict that the effects of the measure may, on the wbolcj
be beneficial; he adopts an attitude of prudent reserve on the second.
The Amir-i-Mufakham continued Governor of tho Province until Octobtf
1913 when he was dismissed after an ineffectual struggle with Mr. Locoffo
the Finance Agent. Several petty squabbles preceded the final disaster. Tte
Balihtiari Khan proceeded on tour to Bam in early March and remained m ttj
district until early July. The tour was successful from the point of view ®
the maintenance of order, but a failure as regards the collection of revenue
A similar tour, or rather raid, into Baluchistan, which His Excellency plana#
in the autumn, was discouraged from Tehran.
In the place of the dismissed Governor, his brother Sirdar Mubtashag
was appointed but did not join his post during the year. Tho province .
not appear to have suffered from his absence and the loourn tenena,
Has rat, proved satisfactory. The cry of “ no more Bakbtiaris99 recorded v’1
some appearance of sympathy by His Majesty #& Consul, deserves notice.