Page 530 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

12 AKNUAL REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY
north of Bandar Abbas) and succeeded in carrying off all the animals coc^l
ing of 890 camels, il donkeys and 8 mules. 200 of the camels were ifc'
property of Government tbo remainder being hired animals. A small quantity
of Government stores was also carried off by the raiders.
Tho situation in Minab gave grave cause for anxiety. On tho 3rd Juno the
Chief of tho Guard of the Deputy Governor, Minab, was murdered by Tahir^
at the instigation of Mir Barkat, Kalantar of Biyaban. The Deputy Governor
retaliated by killing three Tahirzais and capturing 230 of their camels. ^,r
Barkat, promptly raised a lashkar and marched on tho town of Minab which
was within an ace of being captured by him.
It was necessary to restrain Barkat till reinforcements could be sent to
the Deputy Governor of Minab. At the request of His Majesty’s Consul
H. M. S. “ Bramble ” was sent to Kobistak to show the flag, and tho South
Persia itifles despatched 100 men to the assistance of the Deputy Governor,
Mincb, who was thus enabled to drive off Barkat at a most critical time. In
tho meantime a small expedition was organised by His Excellency the Governor
of the Gulf Ports with our assistance in ammunition and money. His Excel,
lency proceeded by sea in the Persian Gunboat “ Persepolis and the Deputy
Governor of Bandar Abbas, who had taken over command of the force at Minab
marched by land to Sirik, the principal village in Biyaban, which was entered
on August 10th by the combined force. Mir Barkat declined to fight hb
patron, the Governor of the Gulf Ports, and retired to Bashakird where the
Government troops were unable to follow. Negotiations then ensued, but
Mir Barkat refused to accede to the Governor’s terms which were to band oxer
the murderers of the Chief of the Guard and to pay up his arrears of revenue.
The Governor thereupon appointed Mir Gul Muhammad (son of Mir Hazi the
late Kalcntar) as Kalantar of Biyaban and withdrew his force from Biyaban
leaving 30 riflemen to support Mir Gul Muhammad. Later, Lieutenant-
Colonel Trevor visited Biyaban where he met ilir Barkat and succeeded in
obtaining from him a promise to pay up two years’ revenue and to restore a
7-centimetre gun which he h3d captured in the fighting at Aiinab. Mir Barkat
soon afterwrrds fulfilled hi3 promise and the Governor of tho Gulf Ports
reinstated him as Kalantar.
The expedition may, on the whole, be considered a success for it saved
Mi nab, one of the richest districts on the Persian lictoral from falling into the
hands of Mir Barkat, and it proved to Mir Barkat that the Persian Govern­
ment,, supported by us, was still powerful enough to punish him for his
rebellious action. The fact of the Government forces marching through his
district and occupying his principal scapGrt was a great blow to bis prestige
and there is no doubt his followers suffered great hardships in the retirement
to Bashakird.
Notwithstanding the unsafety of the caravan routes, particularly between
Kerman and Yezd and Sirjan and Tcri
2nd*
and the high freights bj land and sea, the
trade of Bandar Abbas continued to increase. The shortage of steamers fr°®
India was made good by laigc numbers of sailing boats which brought
large quantities of merchandise from India.
From about the middle of the year arrangements were made for thj
British India Steam Navigation Company^ subsidiary mail steamers, to caj*
once a fortnight on- the voyage; out* from Karachi. Limited quantities 01
merchandise were imported by these steamers.
Steamers of the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Company, ^
Persian Gulf Steam Navigation Company and the line of Chartered Japao^
8te&men continued to call from Bombay till about the middle of the
when the calls were discontinued.
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company increased the depth of their boring
1,300 to 1,800 feet during the year
Sritiik m*«rect».
to the difficulty in obtaining stea^
to bring the necessary o3 fuel from Abadan for the working of the engines
work of boring was greatly delayed ' In the latter half of the year, h°*eT^ 1
1
arr angeme nts were made by the
arrangements were made bv the AdAdmiralty for the necessary tonnage
made available.