Page 531 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

13
FOR THB TEAR 1917.
On lltb August oil of a very good quality, containing a large percentage
f ijetiol, was struck at a depth of 1,G 11 feet. It was decided to bore deeper
•il tlio main oil-bearing strata was reached and the prospects of success at the
*'od of the year were most hopeful.
A consignment of 3,000 bags of American sugar and 26 packages of
miscellaneous goods made in America
Foreign Intoro'U.
were imported into Bandar Abbas by
the American Firm of Taushanjian.
Assistant Surgeon H. C. Berlie, I.S.1I.D , held charge of the Charitable
Dispensary and Quarautine duties
Qua.rantii.0 and Medical.
throughout the year.
The total number of new cases treated at the Charitable Dispensary wob
3,38S as against 3,122 duriug the previous year.
Dysentery and measles, in epidemic form, occurred during the last quarter
of the year under report.
One case of imported plague was reported by the military medical
authorities. The patient was a Tangistani recruit of the South Persia Rifles
tfho had contracted the disease on board S. S. “ Dwarka ” on the voyage from
jjuskire. The case proved fatal.
The telegraph line to Kerman was completed on the 30th April. The
natural obstacles to construction were
Bandar Abba6-Eeiman Telegraph Liue.
considerable especially over the Tang-i-
Zindan where the holes for the posts bad to be dug iu the solid rock. The
scarcity of transport and of supplies tended to retard progress. Weather
conditions too were very severe during the winter months and the Construction
Party suffered much in consequence. The late Mr. E. J. Blackman of the
Indo-European Telegraph Department who was in charge of the construction
deserres great credit for the rapid and successful completion of the line.
It was definitely decided to construct a road via the Tang-i-Zagh and
Saidabad to Kerman. A slight diversion
Bin-lar Abbas-Kormac Road.
was discovered whereby the actual Tang
(defile) could be avoided A party of Engineers under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel L. E. liopkins, R.E., D.S.O., arrived in the latter part
of November and work was commenced almost immediately.
Twenty-six slaves took refuge in the Vice-Consulate during the year.
Thirteen of them were manumitted, two
Slave*.
absconded and seven were returned to their
masters.
The force in the Bandar Abbas area consists of but one regiment (the 1st
Ahmad Shahi) of Infantry numbering
South Pena Rifim.
about 600. The men have been recruited
for the most part from among the inhabitants of the low-lying districts
^tending from Minab in the east to Tangistan on the west. A detachment of
the regiment is posted at Gabkum (Tahrum) situated about .half-way between
Bandar Abbas and Saidabad. The regiment has not had a proper chance of
developing into a well-trained unit owing to the heavy escort* and garrison
oahes it has had to perform and the frequent changes of officers. During the
fear under report the regiment was commanded by* no less* than* five different
fficerm The reasons for. such frequent, changes were due, firstly, to a- shortage
® officers in the whole force of, South Persia Rifles in South . Persia and the
nse<|uent necessity of. posting suitable officers to more important posts in the
; and, secondly, to the unhealthy climate of Bandar Abbaa.
p September 31 riflemen, forming part of the detachment
Proceeding to Gahkum, mutinied at Chah Ali and made off with ’ their senrioe
os and pouch ammunition. Captain Wall, who was commanding the detach-
lo * r°^e a^ter them unarmed with the intention of trying to persuade them
eturn. He succeeded in getting six of the mutineers to return but the
felv declined to; and alter deliberately firing at Captain Wall, fortuna-
fitting him, oontinued on their way. His Majesty’s Consul
communicated with the Deputy Governor of Lar and Bastak, through
^tricts the mutineers would have to pass to reach their homes, and