File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎39v] (83/1044)

S-i<; , 1 / -r •**»“
*:■■■■' jimOSMaam^ =s*sl5»*«i^SBS
Consul-General, stated tliat lie had received letters from his father hinting' at the
possibilities^)! these changes.
Many complaints are being made at the mal-administration of the Finance
Department. Unexplained deficits seem to justify these complaints. Dr. Hussein
Kuli Khan, one of the Government candidates' for 1 the Mejliss, has been instructed rs
to hold an informal enquiry, and to look into certain items of the accounts.
The condition of the town and environs.has been generally satisfactory during:
the period of this report.
Heavy rain was reported at Kashan on May 7th, and much rain has fallen at
Koom and Ardistan.
The shortage and high prices of corn, which it is alleged is being cornered
by certain wealthy merchants, land-owners and others, is causing much distress to-
the lower classes in Ispahan. Unless the Government takes some drastic action^
those who are the profiteers by the situation, are not likely to part with their stock.
Meanwhile bread is very scarce, and the quality is bad.
Mr. El-Aswad, representing an Anglo-American firm of commission agents
(Bourne and Toomey of High Holborn) has arrived from Tehran, and proposes to
remain some four months at Ispahan.
Shikaz.
Rain, which was urgently required during the first two weeks of this month
for the crops, only fell in small quantities. Harvesting is now in progress, and on
the whole the crops are much better this year than last.
Throughout the month locusts have been present. They appear to have done
little harm in the Shiraz valley, but the country above Daliki to Kazerun has been
stripped bare. The figures of locust destruction produced by the Shiraz Committee
are very belated, but the success of their efforts is undeniable.
Great excitement prevailed in Shiraz at the prospect of the visit of His Imperial
Majesty the Shah early this month. But when definite news of his plans was.
received, it was seen that he did not intend to return v'ld Shiraz but would visit
Bushire,’ew route for Mohammerah and Basrah. On May 8th His Highness Farman
Farma left Shiraz for Bushire to meet His Imperial Majesty the Shah. He travelled
with many Shiraz notables including Qawam-ul-Mulk and a detachment of his own
troops. He reached Bushire without incident on May 14th. He had remained in
Borazjun three days. (For further details vide Bushire news).
Hishmat-ul-Mamalik, who was nominated by the Finance Department as Rais-
i-Malieh at Bushire, but whose appointment was not welcomed by the Deputy
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. and Darya Begi, has been ordered by Tehran to remain in
Shiraz for the present.
Early this month there were several conferences regarding the Ilkhaniship of the
Kashgais, Both Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Ehtesham and Salar-i-Hishmat have been very explicitly
informed of the conditions on which they may look for British support, but they
unfortunately continue to exaggerate their private differences. At the last moment
things took a better turn. His Highness the Governor-General called at the Con
sulate on his way down from Shiraz, and summoned the two brothers. In the
presence of His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, he directed them to take all necessary
measures for the preservation of order among the tribes during his absence. He
assured them of his support should they be successful, and should they make satis
factory An East India Company trading post. arrangements for the payment of revenues. Since then, however. Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Ehtesham has done nothing but whimper that until he has his orders in his hands,
nobody fwill obey him, and that as long as half the tribes remain with Soulat-ud-
Dowleh. (This half is pobably less than 10 per cent). Fortunately Salar-i-Hishmat
is taking a more sensible line.
The bazar was gaily decorated with carpets and illuminated for several nights
in honour of the birthday of the 12th Imam. A certain amount of abuse of the
Bahais was heard. One of them beat a small boy who had insulted him, and
a crowd assembled threatening to sack the shop of Muhammad Hassan Bulurfurush*
a Bahai, near which the incident occurred. Some Bahai officers of the South