'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎34v] (75/396)

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PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ADMINISTEATION REPOET
Nakhudas. This chief also wrote saying tiiere were no rifles procurable at Bint; qmte
possibly this was true, but at the same time he avoided referring 1 to other parts of his
province where it is known that the Afghans collected a large number of arms and correspond
ing quantities of ammunition between January and May. The number of rities is said to
have exceeded 400, adding this number to the 600 imported on 7th April 1915 and 21st
May 1915 it can be assumed that over 1,000 rifles, majority of which were Martinis of sorts,
have left the country on different dates during the season under report. That suitable
weapons are procurable in the country and can be imported without much difficulty is proved
by the number of Afghans engaged in the trade as it is very improbable these men would go
to the expense and undergo the hardships of a long journey overland unless they were
absolutely certain of making the business a paying one.
During January and February over 400 Sovereigns were brought to the Charbar
bazaar by Baluchis from the interior who were willing to exchange them for silver at a
discount and a good many more would have come in if the supply of silver had not run out
owing to slackness in trade. It is believed <$u0 odd Sovereigns found their way to Gwadur
and Maskat in consequence. Gold coinage could only have been brought into the country
by the Afghans and it is apparent the traffic in arms during the half-year has been fairly
brisk, the traders and all concerned in the trade taking full advantage of the withdrawal
of the blockade.
It was reported on 2nd February that four Afghans left Tank for Debai in a Baluch
boat, Nakhuda Rahmullah, and it is said these men were responsible for the successful!
landings at Giriskin on tjth April 1915 and at Sadaich on 24^ May 1915 where they were
met by their friends who had been waiting in the neighbourhood for their return.
A party of Afghans, numbering about 30, quarrelled amongst themselves at a village
a few miles north of the telephone station at Rapch, on the 24th January, and in a fight
which ensued one man was killed and another severely wounded. The wounded man was taken
to Jask accompanied by six of his comrades and, on nearing that station, the injured man
was escorted to the buildings by one of the party whilst the others retired on to old Jask. Their
presence at that place was notified to Mir Barkat of Biaban who happened to be in the
vicinity and he immediately had them arrested and sent in to the authorities who deported
them to India. f l he injured man and his companion were detained for the time being and
deported on the recovery of the former.
Four Afghans named Khan Muhammad, Abdullah Khan, Wilayat Shah and Sadu
Khan left Karachi early in January by a native boat for Charbar. On their arrival at that
place they were arrested and detained. The party stated their objective was Baghdad to
which place they intended proceeding after paying their respects to Khalifa Khair Muhammad
at Bint, they swore they had absolutely no concern in the arms traffic. On the difficulties
of a journey being represented they begged to be allowed to pay their respects to the Khalifa,
after which they promised to return. The men were carefully searched and a sum of
Rs. 30/ and about 80 krans were found divided among the party. The Political authorities
having no objection to their visiting the Khalifa at Bint, Rs. 15 was advanced to each to
meet expenses, the balance of the money being detained as security for their return.
xVothing has been heard of the party since and it can be assumed they were concerned in
the arms trade and thought it advisable to return overland to their homes instead of riskino-
doing so via Charbar and Karachi. It is quite probable these men travelled to the Mekran
Via Karachi instead of following the usual route as it is much shorter and more comfortable
and that the bulk of the money they intended to invest in arms was - sent by another
route. J
Nine Afghans also found their way into the Mekran vid Gwadur in January last.
These men landed at Gwadur from a native boat and possibly, owing to a lack of vigilance
o the part of the authorities at that place, were allowed to proceed unmolested. The
telephone stations en route reported their presence and movements daily and all arrangements
to have them arrested in the event of the party calling at Charbar were made but after
reac mg venj (1 miles East of Charbar) the Afghans proceeded direct to Parao- '(15 miles
west of Charbar and disappeared travelling in a north-westerly direction. 0
nf H Th | ( 1 Afgh J m 1 . tra i df ' rs in the country were in no way concerned in the destruction
Hp 1 h T p n wvf en ii i Charbar and also in the attack on the station at
the latter place. When called upon to assist they stated that they were in the country for
thdr ^ ^ was theh- t
I rom the attached statement of arms landed durinp" fhp Vmlf voot ;+ mi u -c j
^ r ig T,n fiVe T ^ two in 6 Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
chiJ c I VV0 11 ta Pha Khau of Jask and one unknown. The tw T o subsidised
chiefs have done nothing to prevent the importation of srms and as f«r T T SUDSiai l ea
aTuVto e^btr/ar :t S L W „Ted t WU f ''IT ^ ^
o— nd that after the
during tKSf ^rattfohed. apprMimate of a™ and ammnnition imported