Page 46 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

80 PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORT

CHAPTER II.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE VICE-0ON8TJLATE, LINGab
FOR THE TEAR 1912.
uuu iviiau xiaa rmamea tne appo
Deputy Governor.—Mirza Mahmud Khan has retained the appointm
throughout^ the year. In AprU he uj!
throughout the year. In April
relieved of much,
administrative powers by the Customs. He and his staff are paid* monthT
by the Customs, who have also taken charge of all revenue collections in
district, a regretable move in the wrong direction, which is not only humil^T
ing to the Deputy Governor, making him practically a figure-head under tip
control of the Customs, but it is damaging to British interests.
v. Karguzars.—This appointment has not been filled bya permanent inct^.
bent throughout the year, and, as before, the Deputy Karguzar of Bandar
Abbas, Hacsam-e-Saadat, has aoted for Lingah, paying two visits, in July and
in October, when the Customs Administration ordered the Deputy Governor
to tzlie by force the seals and archives of the office, which was frustrated by
the arrival of Hascam-e-Saadat, and since when nothing further has transpired *
Turkish.—Mr. R. H. New has remained in charge of Turkish interests.
No incidents of a special character have
Foroign Representative*.
occurred
Zlackat a::d Oitian.—Muhammad Tahnun has continued as Agent of His
Higlinec3 the Sultan of Maskat and Oman during the year. He is not
officially recognized by the local authorities and has instructions, in case of
need, to request the assistance of His Majesty’s Vice-Consul.
Abdur Bezci.—Cliief of the Deputy Governor’s tufangchis, which force
early in the year only consisted of 12
Local Government
men, in January openly defied the Deputy
Governor’s authority, and the latter was powerless to do anything with him or
the tufangchis. Abdur Reza subsequently developed the habit of leaving his
post without permission and making journeys to Bandar Abbas with rifles" for
sale there. On information supplied by this Vice-Consulate, he was arrested at
Bandar Abbas and imprisoned. This individual was also implicated with a
gang of Persian officials and others in holding secret indignation meetings,
directed partly against British interests, and with a view to obtaining the <&•
misral of the Deputy Governor, who was aware and fearful of their doings, but
powerless. Other principal movers were:—
Abdur Reza Khan.—Revenue Collector.
Bahman Shah.—Persian Postmaster.
Saiyid Jaafer.—A Lari merchant.
Through the representations of this Vice-Consulate the two first
were dismissed, while the latter turned a complete front and afterwards became
very friendly with the Vice-Consulate.
Government ammunition.—For the defence of Lingah in April, the Deputy
Governor imported from Maskat 12,000 rounds of Martini-Henri and 3,CM
rounds of Mauser ammunition, for the use of his tufangchis, who had practic^J
no ammunition. Delivery was, however, refused by the Customs until t®6
receipt of authorization from the Central Government in June.
Monsieur L.. Collette held cha rge of the Customs Administration up ^
the 21st July, when, on transfer to Band*
Cortona*.
Abbas, he was relieved by Monsieur
TVillemsens. From Bandar Abbas Monsieur Collette reverted to Lingah on the
7th December and Monsieur TTillemsens was transferred to Bushire.
but. be i.
Monsieur Collette .is inclined to be brusque with natives,
‘becoming with experience, more reasonable and fnendly.