Page 57 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

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FOE THE YEA.B mt. 17

Apart, however, from this one incident the closing months of the year have
ehown a distinct improvement in the condition of the oountrv. From Novem­
ber onwards numerous caravans and travellers have come down from and left
for the interior without incident of any kind.
The long-continued anarchy in Persia appears to have at length caused
British interests. c?U&pse of many Persian firms in the
intenor: with many of these firms the
flindu firms or Bandar Abbas and Kerman had extensive dealings. The
failure of the Persian firms consequently reacted directlv on the 8hikafpuri
firms many of whom found themselves involved in a severe financial crisis.
Drafts drawn on Bombay to a considerable amount by various Persians in
Kerman and purchased by Hindus were dishonoured on presentation; this
caused a panic, and both the Banks and Hindus ceased to deal in Persian
drafts: the Hindus however had obligations to meet in Karachi, and being
unable to remit money by draft, had, in some cases, to ship goods back to
Karachi for sale there. Heavy remittances were sent by post, and to such an
extent did the money-order work of the Post Office increase, that an extra
assistant had to be sent up from Bombay to enable the local Postmaster to
cope with the work. Representations were made by Shikarpur firms to the
Government of India, the Commissioner in Sind and the Karachi Chamber of
Commerce, and ultimately arrangements were made between the Hindus and
their creditors, who consisted mainly of European firms in Karachi, by which
a period of grace wa3 given them in which to meet their liabilities. This the
opening of the routes ultimately enabled them to do, and it is hoped that the brisk
caravan traffic between Bandar Abbas and Kerman at the close of the year will
completely re-establish their financial equilibrium. The failure of these firms,
in whose bauds is probably SO per cent, of the trade of this port, and whose
activities lie almost exclusively within the British sphere of influence, would
have been a serious contingency.
The British India Steam Navigation Company continued their fortnightly
service of steamers throughout the year: the service however was insufficient to
carry the cargo, and extra steamers were sent up very frequently. As the
sailings of these letter boats were irregular, the service proved unsatisfactory,
and before the close of the year the Company had announced their intention of
reverting to the weekly service, which will certainly prove much more satisfac­
tory to shippers.
The Arab Steamers Limited had at their inception published a time table of
regular fortnightly sailings: to this however they have been quite unable to
adhere, and their sailings have been gradually becoming fewer and more irregu­
lar. It seems doubtful whether the Company can continue long unless they
have a radical change of management.
The ships of the Russian Steam Narration Company paid 7 calls at
Foreign Interests. Bajada* ***** durinS the year.

The ships of the Hamburg-Amerika Line paid II calls and brought 20,459
packages.
Assistant Surgeon Smith, I.S.M.D, held the post of Quarantine Medical
Officer throughout the year. The Chant-
Quarantine. able Dispensary in the town continued to
he well-attended; the number of patients who attended the dispensary during
the past three years is as foIIowb
1910 2,855
1911 2,545
1912 2,879
In March the house at Naiband, which was formerly the British Consulate,
xvas rented by the Quarantine Authorities and converted into a Quarantine