'Administration Reports 1925-1930' [‎116v] (237/418)

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a promise to pay him a part of the revenues of their districts. He also
addressed a letter to the Director of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Section, Indo-
European Telegraph Department at Karachi to the effect that if all the
telegraph subsidies were paid to him, he would undertake the protection
of the telegraph lines passing through the Persian Mekran. A non
committal reply was made after consulting the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. to the
effect that the matter had been referred to the authorities. At this period
it was known throughout Baluchistan that the Persians were concentrating
troops for an advance on Bampur from the direction of Bam and Duzdap.
The meeting with Dost Mohamed at Kasserkand took place in the latter
part of April and was attended by D?n Mohamed of Dashtyari who refused
to surrender any part of his revenues. The meeting broke up on reports
being received of military activities by the Persians to the North of Bampur.
Dost Mohamed immediately left for Bampur with threat of armed action
against Din Mohamed. In August Dost Mohamed was given an ultimatum
by the Persian Military Commander Sarhang Mohamed Khan who had
occupied Karwandar, the principal terms of which were; disarmament of
the entire population of Persian Baluchistan and the maintenance of a
Persian force at Bampur. As Dost Mohamed did not agree to these terms
hostilities commenced in October. During the operations that ensued Dost
Mohamed was defeated and Bampur and the adjacent districts were
occupied by the Persians. Dost Mohamed fled to Sarbaz with his family and
remnants of his forces and soon after the conclusion of the year he was
granted an amnesty by the Shah and permitted to remain chief of Sarbaz
with the revenues of Sarbaz and a part of Dizak and Sarawan districts.
It may be noted that this has placed Dost Mohamed right on the British
border but with considerably reduced power and influence.
The Persian operations in Baluchistan combined with the earlier action
against the Sheikh of Henjam have had a remarkable effect in improving
Persian prestige in the Mekran and the effectiveness of the Persian writ.
None of the subsidised chiefs of the Mekran gave any assistance to Dost
Mohamed and affairs in the Mekran have been unusually quiet. As a result
the Telegraph lines have been comparatively free from interruptions due
to wilful damage.
Claims. —None of the old claims brought by British Indian Subjects
against the people and chiefs of the Persian Baluchistan were settled
during the year. These claims have been brought to the notice of the
Persian Government by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. from
time to time.
Foreign subjects.—No subject of a foreign European power resided at
any port on the Mekran Coast during the year. • Albert Gesseler one of
three German globe-trotters (of whom one was supposed to have died en
route and the second gave up the attempt at Bandar Abbas) was landed at
Charbar by the Commander of a mail boat in May. Refused a transit visa
for India, he attempted to return to Bandar Abbas on foot but came back
to Charbar after a few days' trudge. He left for Bandar Abbas by a mail
steamer. While at Charbar he was accommodated by the Persians.
Telegraph lines. —The telegraph lines between Jask and Charbar were
interrupted during the year by wilful damage as follows
January
February
October
N ovember
Total . 135 hours.
97 hours.
H „
5 „
22
In the Karwan district alone the interruptions totalled 86 hours. The
responsible chiefs (Mirs Ayub Khan and Nagdi Khan) were warned.