'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎102v] (211/396)

32 ANNUAL EEPOET OF THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
The Khalifah having returned to Karwan, some interference with the
Telegraph lines was resumed, and the people became somewat unsettled by
his presence. The destruction of lines was often thieatened but since no
considerable damage was done it is possible that those who brought information
had exaggerated.
Towards the latter end of the year Islam Khan offered the Khalifah
Es, 500 and some land to settle upon to keep him (the Khalifah) quiet, and
to have some hold ovei* him against any inclination to interfere with the
Telegraphs. This offer was accepted but was only held for a short time, Islam
Khan being murdered, some say at the instigation of Sahib Khan at Surkh
Boor by 12 of the latter's followers.
The Khalifah then announced that he and the Karwanis would only recog-
nise Sardars Yahya, Ayub and Nabi Bukhsh as rightful administrators of
Karwan and Bint, and declined to acknowledge Sahib Khan and Nagdi Khan.
The life of Sahib Khan was attempted at Bint by Yahya and Ayub but Sahib
Khan was only slightly wounded, and Yahya and Ayub took refuge with
Mir Barkat. Some trouble subsequently occurred between Yahya and Sahib
Khan, in which there were a few casualties.
In the early part of the year Mir Barkat came to terms with Mir Gul
Muhammad, Mir Haji's second son, with whom he had had some differences
One Qaseem, brother of the late Muhammad Ali of Minab, looted 700
camels from Murad Ali, a subject of Mir Barkat, and it is stated three men were
killed in the affray. Barkat, in retaliation, collected a Lashkar and, after
attacking and defeating a Persian force, he retired to the mountains to await
events, having captuied some loot and a small gun.
Several attempts were made by Darya Begi to get in personal touch with
Mir Barkat, but to no avail, the latter not wishing to put himself in Darya
Begi's power. After long correspondence between the two, a certain amount
of revenue w T as paid by Mir Barkat, and matters seem to have automatically
adjusted themselves, Mir Barkat, it is understood, being pardoned on his
undertaking to behave well in future.
^Mir Barkat was reappointed Zabit of Biaban vice Gul Muhammad Mir
Haji, who was relieved. Gul Muhammad, when living, committed considerable
depredations in the surrounding villages, mainly towards Minab.
In November, Mahmud Khan's son Azim Khan shot Jan Muhammad
son of Mir Eaqir Muhammad of Shahrek, in the latter's district In retalia
tion a subject of Bustam Khan shot six of Mahmud Khan's men looting consi
derable property. Incidental'y some fightin"; occurred between Yahyaand
Sahib Khan.
A Mekran subject named Moola Moosa of Gwadur trading in Bahu
was robbed, it is said, of some 7,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. worth of goods, for which outrage
Mir Ashraf and Mir Din Muhammad mutually recriminate each other; the
robbery took place in Mir Din Muhammad's territory. So far nothing appears
to have been settled.
1 he general condition of the country is fairly satisfactory, and the chiefs
appear to be favourable to us at present.
Little or nothing was done in the arms traffic, and no case of slave dealing)
either of import or export, was reported.
Many people from the interior migrated to the coast at the latter end of
ISovomber, owing, it is reported, to drought in their own country.