Page 49 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

TOE THE YEAB 1912. 89
According to fairly accurate information and check, the arms reported to
l,0vo been landed in the vicinity of Lingah during the year amount to 5,490
Arms Traffic. rifles and 164 Mauser pistols, a con­
siderable increase on 1911, which stood at
9 7GO rifles. The actual figure for the whole Shib Kuk coast, as far as Naband,
•q probably more, as good information of imports smuggled, beyond Birkeh
giila to the eastward, and Chiru to the. west, is not available. The amis are
brought from the Trucial Coast, principally, according to information, from
Sharjah and Ajman,. in small lots of 40 to 100 rifles, and the usual method of
boats is to promptly jettison their cargoes, if there is any fear of capture by
naval skips, Boats belonging to Oharak, Mughu and Duwan are chiefly
engaged in the trade, while the arms are mostly consigned to Evazi traders,
financed by the some of the principal merchants at Lingah, many of whom are
interested.
The quality of arms imported is chiefly the 27« Sporting Mauser, the price
0f which at Lar stood at about Rs. 250 early in the year, and later dropped to
Rs. 210, owing to a plentiful supply. A large number of the rifles are absorbed
by the Shaikhs of Shib Kuh and the Chiefs of small districts in Laristan,
whose fighting men. are mostly armed with Mausers. As reported last year
there are still indications that some of the rifles are taken to Yezd, and get into
the hands of Afghans trading with that town.
Anns jettisoned during the year by boats crossing to the Persian coast,
according to information received, totals 655 rifles and 43 Mauser pistols, which
may safely be taken as a low estimate.
Captures Other than that effected by H. M. S. " Tamil ” on the 10th
February, consist of only 4 rifles, 2 Mauser pistols, 864 rounds of ammunition,
4 rifle bolts, with a quantity of personal kit and many letters, made by Police
Constable Muhammad Anwar on board the British India Steam Navigation
Company’s S. S. “ Patiala ” at Debai on the 25th May. The owner of these
arms, Muhammad Sharif bin Ibrahim Shafla Balooki of Lingah, was arrested
by the Shaikh of Debai and subsequently imprisoned at Bushire.
In August the Deputy Governor made a capture at Meharakan of about
60 rifles, en route from Lingah to Lar, but some leakage occurred, and the
number reported was only 45 rifles, still in his possession.
Of the five cases of applicants for manumission, pending enquiry at the
close of 1911, all were manumitted.
Slave Trade.
During the year only 11 slaves sought redress at the Vice-Consulate; four
were granted manumission and five cases were rejected, the remaining two cases
being still under investigation.
British India Steam Navigation Company.—The Company’s fast mail
service has called at Lingah weekly
n m cros 8’ during the year, in addition to a fortnightly
subsidiary service.
Bombay Persia Steam Navigation Company.—Three ships called outwards
from Bombay and seven ships inwards, three of which carried pilgrims to the
Hedjaz.
Pilgrims.—The master of the Company's S. S. “ Moshtari,” which called
for pilgrims on the 4th October, deliberately misled His Britannic Majesty’s
Vice-Consul by stating that he carried 60 pilgrims less than his certificate
allowed. He was permitted to ship this number at Lingah and it subsequently
transpired, on the ship’s arrival at Maskat, that he carried 62 pilgrims in excess.
The Arab Steamers, Limited.—This Company started a service to the
Persian Gulf in July 1911, and, during the past year, 18 of their steamers have
called at Lingah outwards from Bombay, while 10 steamers called on the return
journey from Basrah.
The Anglo-Algerian steamship Company.—Two steamers called at Lingah,
on the outward voyage from London
Other British shipping.
and two steamers homewards.
BucknalVs Steamers, Limited.—Two steamers qalled outwards, from London.