'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎172r] (350/396)

for the tear 19 1 9 -
35
Jask.
Mr. C. H. St. John, Joint Assistant Superintendent, was in charge of the
telegraph station throughout the year.
Persian officials. of the Deputy Governor is
still vacant.
Mr. J. Eerro, in charsre of the Customs, proceeded on leave at the end of
June. Be was relieved by Mirza Ibrahim Khan from Charhar, who performed
the duties of the Customs Collector for the rest of the year.
The detachment of l-3rd Brahmins Mas relieved by a detachment of 2-lst
Military Detachment. Brahmins in February. The average
monthly strength was 94 non-commission
ed officers and men and two British officers exclusive of half mule section.
Only three sails, two anchors and two bundles of cargo of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
Wiecks "Muafiq" (reported in last yearns Adminis
tration report) were seat to Jask by Mir
Mustafa Khan, the remainder:—300 bags of rice, 100 bags of wheat and 400
bags of charcoal, w T ere looted by Noor Mohamed, brother of the above chief.
In January, the country craft "Badami" belonging to Seth Utoomal of
Charbar left Bunder Abbas for Charbar with a general cargo and encounter
ing bad weather put in at Girav North of Sirik and came to Charbar later on.
The Nakhuda lodged a complaint in the office of the Assistant Superintendent
Telegraph Station at Charbar to the effect that he anchored in 18 fathoms and
on going ashore to get assistance to bale out the water, he was detained by the
headman of the place and forced to sign a bond for Es. 6,0 )0 for salvage by
Mir Burkat who had come on the scene m the meantime. He added that goods
worth Rs. 1,254 were taken away by the chief. Mir Burkat contended that
the boat was leaking and that as the Nakhuda and crew had intended to
abandon her, he gave assistance by supplying men who baled out the water and
Tepaired the craft. He admitted having taken the goods and claimed the
balance. The ow^ner paid Es. 3,000 to the chief by the decision of the Deputy
Political Eesident.
In April, dinghy Vithalpassa" bound for Karachi from Basrah cast
anchor near Sharno, 14 miles East of Jask, on account of adverse currents. She
was boarded by the followers of Chiragh Khan, son of Mir Mustafa Khan, who
removed 1,401 bags of Jowari and practically all the belongings of the crew.
The anchor rope was deliberately cut and the boat left to drift and break up.
The Nakhuda and crew who went to Jask were provided with passages to
Karachi. After a great deal of correspondence, only 233 bags of Jowari and a
few sundries were returned by Mir Mustafa Khan. Eepeated endoavours to
recover the remaining goods, have proved futile. At the instance of the Deputy
Political Eesident, orders were issued by the General Officer Commanding,
Bushire Eorce, to the Officer Commanding Jask Troops, to apprehend Chiragh
at the first opportunity.
In December, dinghy " Haidri" of Bhavnagar with dates from Basrah ran
ashore near Sirik. Mir Burkat's followers unloaded the cargo. The chief
claimed half of the cargo and half of the value of the boat. She was ultimate
ly brought to Jask undamaged and delivered to her Nakhuda. The chief was
allowed to retain the dates in return for his services.
In. the same month, dinghy Sultani " of Gwadur ran ashore near Gabreg
and became a to^al wreck. The Nakhuda and crew saved themselves. The
major portion of the cargo was jettisoned and the remainder was reported to
have been carried away by one Noor Mohamed and others.
His Majesty's Ships "Bramble," " Britomart" and <f Nearchus" occasion-
Na ^ ally visited the port during the year.
The Deputy Political Eesident, 5 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , visited the station in March
and December. On the first occasion he selected a site for the landing of
aeroplanes about two miles east of the military picquet line.