Page 172 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

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82 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION DEPORT

Amir Mujahid who fleoced them and compelled them to give bond* f
paymont of tho revenue for tho years 1911-1913. Remonstrances -were ^
to * Tehran whence came stringent orders to the Amir Mujahid not to ini
in either Lirawi or Rilnm. In spite of these orders, tho attitude of the
Mujahid became so threatening that, in April of this year, tho Kh
Shahbankaroh, Angali and Chahkutah all wrote to Haidar khan of u18 °*
Ravud saying that they were ready to send armed men to help tho Lirav
Ravud Khans to resist Bakhtiari aggression in the coastal plain which tl1 ^
fear. It is equally unwelcome to this Residency, which has no wish to sq ?
disorder, bloodshed and rapine, which usually accompany the Bakhf •
wherever they appear, devastate the comparatively tranquil and orderly ^
tricts to the north and in close proximity to Busliire. ^
The best solution from tho point of view of this Residency is to place tk
district under the charge of the Government of the Gulf Ports. ‘ tbe
Geographically—Lirawi is, like Arabistan and Hayat Ravud
side of it, south of the coastal range. °u each
Historically.—There is justification for the change, as Lirawi used to l
under Bushire in the time of the Arab Shaikhs e
Tnbally.—The littoral from tho borders of Arabistan to Bushire is ruled
by one family of Khans, all of whom recognise the Khan of Hayat Damd
(Bandar Rig)) as their head.
Financially.—Lirawi is a fief, owned by a private landlord, and the
revenue is paid through the Imperial Bank of Persia to the Central Govern­
ment and tne owner of the fief.
In July, it was rumoured that Uaji Saiyid Said-us-Sultaneh was pressing
for more revenue and threatening that, if he did not get it, he would sell or
lease the district to the Bakhtiari Khans.
In August tho Resident wired to His Majesty’s Minister suggesting that
tht Central Government should buy the Lirawi lands from Haji Saiyid Said-us-
Sultaneh at the price he originally gave for them. He pointed out that it
would bo very profitable for the State and asked that the district might then
be placed under the Governorship of the Gulf Ports. Jn the meantime the
Lirawi Khans made another remittance of revenue to the Imperial Bank of
Persia for the half-year ending the 21st September 1913, for remittance to
Said-us-Sultaneh.
In October 1913, two more Bakhtiari Governors again appeared at
Behbehan and renewed their demands for revenue on the 31st October last
The Resident addressed a despatch to His Majesty’s Minister urging the placing
of the district of Lirawi under the Gulf Ports and its purchase by Central
Government.
Later, the Resident addressed the Government of India on the subject
pointing to the dangers of Bakhtiari aggression with special reference to the
possibility of their being used as a catspaw by the Russians, who were said to
be acquiring considerable influence over the Bakhtiari chiefs.
Prom the foregoing remarks about the condition of Fars, it will hardly be
expected that we should be able to give
Condition of trade route* in Fare,
for the present year any more favourable
comments on the condition of the Bushire-Ispahan road than were given w*
year. Still, some progress has been made; ** JRahdari ” has been check«L
and a combination of the Bushire forwarding merchants, under the aegis of the
Governor of Bushire, has been able to effect a very considerable diming01*
of the rates of hire. The 1912 report loft the average transport rate at 395 Kran*
per 100 maunds. As mentioned last year the rate actully touched 5o0
Bo early as March of this year, Mr. Chick, the Commercial Adviser to t *
Consul-General for Fare, was able to congratulate the community of
ing agents on a reduction from 440 Krans to 300 Krans por 100 w
maunds, It was then hoped to reduce the rate still further and this hop*? *
fully realised, for tho rate went down to 255 Krans per 100 Shiraz maunds
piece-goods, and 270 Krans per 100 Bushire maunds for sugar. rTnc£. nS
again slightly at the end of the year to 270 Krana for piece-goods and 290 ft-1*
for sugar,