"تقارير إدارية ١٩٢٠-١٩٢٤" [و‎‎٧‎٩] (٤١٢/١٦٢)

PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY, 1921.
51
his Department, but was met with strong opposition on this point by Viqar-ul-
Mulk who was pocketing the fees himself.
The Adliyeh remained open during the early part of the year but was
eventually closed by Yiqar-ul-Mulk after receiving many complaints against
His Eoyal Highness Muayyad-us-Sultan whom he had appointed to act as
Rais-el-Adliyeh in place of Haji Mulla Ali. The Rais and Viqar-ul-Mulk
between them stripped the law courts of what furniture they contained.
Control of the Shushtar Telegraph Office together with instruments and
lines was handed over to the Persian authorities and the office moved from
the Consular Agency to its former building.
Salar-i-Ehtesham acted as Chief of Police until the arrival of His Excellency
Zahir-ul-Mulk who transferred hiin to Dizful and appointed his syce one
Hassan Khan in his place.
Several attempts were made during the year to enforce the collection of
the Nawaqil tax until the people of the town formed gatherings as a protest
and proceeded to the Consular Agency and the houses of the Chief Mujtihids.
It was decided that collections should remain as before until the arrival of His
Excellency Zahir-ul-M ulk. Zahir-ul-Mulk on his arrival on representations
from the townspeople allowed collection to be continued on the same scale as
previously.
The guarding of the Shushtar-Dizful road remained in the hands of Sultan
Muhammad Khan and Jaafar Quli Khan with their sowars. They performed
their duties satisfactorily. Qubad Khan a rival of Sultan Muhammad Khan
brought a letter from Murtaza Quli Khan to Ekram-ul-Mulk stating that he
should be made the Chief of the Quarasurans on this road. Ekram-ul-Mulk
endeavoured to make Sultan Muhammad Khan pay to be given a farman sav
ing he would remain as chief.
Kalantars and Deportees.
Quli Khan who had been detained in Ahwaz was allowed to return to
Shushtar on a guarantee of good behaviour given for him by His Excellenov
the Sheikh of Mohammerah. ^
Several minor Kalantars were allowed to return to Shushtar from Ahwaz
and Isfahan and sent to live in the Daimcheh estate which was also restored
to the family during the year.
The Consular Agency which was situtated in one of the Kalantar's houses
was vacated and returned to them through the Governor General Humours
were current towards the close of the year that Baqir Khan and Sawed
Azizullah would be allowed to return. His Excellency Zahir-ul-Mulk is
arranging for them to be made to live either in Kermanshah or Tehran.
Bakhtiari.
The fifty Bakhtiari sowars whom the Khans claim to have a ri^ht tn
send for service in Shushtar under the Governor General against pavment of
their revenue from the M'" estates, arrived in April. Being unable to obtain
sufficient pay either from the Khans or from the Governor General thev soon
lett the district. J wvu.
Murtaza Quli Khan the Illbegi visited Ab-i-Bid where he was called on
by the Governor General Viqar-ul-Mulk and others. All attempts to collect
revenue from Bakhtiari estates during the year, failed.
British Firms and Trade.
« v. B he Co " es P 0 ^ncy ot the Imperial Bank of Persia was converted into a
Sub Branch on 22nd August and Mr. L. D. Keith annointeH 1 w
^dT r "M The B;m V ffieC • 8 Sit r ted in the old 8hus htar Consulate buildin|
and the Manager s house in the house of Mirza Abdullah Khan Mostowfi
almnst an ln f i. i P J to ^ ver y Poplar amongst the merchants
almost all of whom have opened accounts and of considerable use to Messrs!