Page 27 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

FOR THE YEAR 1912. 17
tion, f°r Belgian Treasury Officials throughout the Gulf, by stopping or
threatening to stop the emoluments of the Governor’s deputies, and mother
ways, spared no pains to convince all and sundry that they and not the local
(jovernnient were the supreme authority in the district.
^t the close of the year M. Constant evolved a long memorandum in
criticism of the details of the statement of account rendered by the Governor,
which, if the statements made in it were well founded, would constitute a severe
indictment on His Excellency’s financial regime. M. Constant was informed
hy the Resident that in his opinion, if the Customs Administration desired to
use this as a means of impcaching the Governor, the only fair eourse was to
give him a copy of' it at the same time as it reached Monsieur Momard and
give him an opportunity to meet the allegations made in it. It remains to be
what the sequel will be.
Captain C. B. McConaghy, held the post of Chief Quarantine
Medical Officer in the Persian Gulf
Quaiwline and Residency Hospital.
throughout the year.
The serious epidemic of plague which again visited the Island, resulting in
729 deaths out of 965 recorded cases, amounting to a mortality of between
3 or 4 per cent, of the population, is dealt with in Appendix I. It had a
most prejudicial effect on the prosperity of the Island. Many families were
com pletely wiped out, and there was a large emigration to Mohammerah, Basrah,
and elsewhere, which appears likely to result in a permanent diminution of the
population. The epidemic spread to Ahmadi and even as far as Kamarij. It
is satisfactory to note, however, that the Sanitary Council paid a cordial tribute
to the good work performed hy Captain McConaghy and his staff in the
endeavour to combat the outbreak; and that the Government of India were
also pleased to express their appreciation.
The readiness evinced hy the community to take inoculation this year in
contrast to past experience was a particularly noteworthy and satisfactory
feature.
The Adjuman-i-Baladiyah, or Municipal Committee ofpBushire, was in exis­
tence throughout the yearit consists of
Local Govornmoni.
one president and three or four local mem­
bers : their activities are at present confined
Anjuinan-i-BaWi/ab.
Anjuinan • i-AdUya>L to the occasional cleaning of the streets,
Local Police. which is paid for out of the proceeds of
Local Garrison.
illegal taxes which are levied by the
Governor for this and other-purposes.
The Anjuman-i-Adliyah, or Judicial Committee, was re-established hy the
Governor during the year to enquire into civil and other cases which he had no
time to deal with himself. It consists of a president and two clerks, as
well as three peons.
A Court fee of 10 per cent, is recovered. All sums obtained by the Adliyah
and the proceeds are devoted to the payment of the members. It is a progrese-
ive measure and has on the whole worked well.
Local Police.—The Kalantar of the town was in charge of police arrange­
ments throughout the year, and maintained a force of about 40 tufangchis, who
are paid out of illegal taxes collected on transport animals entering the town.
Local Garrison.—There has been no garrison of Persian soldiers at Bushiie
at all during the year under report.
The disturbed condition of the hinterland which was so prominent a
«,Ul , „ feature of the previous year’s record, has
nd't,OT of BMk,r* ”a rammBda,g 4,,tncU- in no way improved during the year under
report. For the greater part of the year, un til December in foot, the districts
of Dashti and Dashtistan were without a Governor even in name: no revenue
*as collected and rival factions were able to devote themselves to the prosecu­
tion of time honoured feuds, unhampered by aay controlling authority.
Traffic on the Bushire-Bhiras road was on several occasions subjected to prolonged
Uiterruptions or to foroible diversions to execrable and little used trades, in
order to avoid passing through the areas of conflict.