File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎101r] (206/1044)

Shaikh Salim of Koweit was the guest of the Shaikh from the 14th to 18th
of June, during which period both of them called upon the Deputy Civil Commis
sioner, Basrah. Shaikh Khazal left on the 24th for Koweit to return the visit.
Thirty-one cases of plague, twelve fatal, occurred in the town from the 8th
of June to the end of the month. Haji Rais and othei prominent citizens have
left the town for Ahwaz and elsewhere.
Ispahan.
The barley harvest in the districts of Ardistan and Qum slightly alleviated
the prevailing distress ; since much of it was sent to Tehran the price remained
high, and that of the other foodstuffs is still rising. The roads to Tehran and
between Kashan and Nain were reported safe ; all others are as insecure as usual,
and in Ispahan itself the police add to the daily sum of robberies.
Murtaza Quli Khan arrived early in May, announcing that he had not come
as Governor ; the attempts of Shahab-as-Sultaneh to perform the current duties
of the latter have been hampered by the (m^-British activities of Murtaza and
Bibi Mariam, whose chief agent is Iftikhar-us-Sadat, a man formerly deported
at the instance of His Britannic Majesty’s Consul.
Shiraz.
During the month according to official news there was no important change
in the situation. A column of Indian troops from Shiraz defeated a force of
Kazerunis on the 11th with few casualties on either side, but by the l*3th Soulat’s
men had occupied gardens and villages to within five miles of the town and cut
off its water-supply. Early on the 16th another column advanced on Chinar
Rahdar, drove back Soulat and Nasr-i-Diwan with considerable loss by mid-day,
and returned unhindered to Shiraz. Some restlessness appeared in the town but
was reported to be under control when two days later all telegraphic communica
tion was cut off by the tribesmen. Up till the end of the month it had not been
Restored. Colonel Farran, Commandant of the Ears Brigade, received orders
from India to assume temporary command of the remaining South Persia Rifles.
On the 29th the Qashqai attacked Abadeh, and captured the telegraph office.
All the local South Persia Rifles deserted, but the rest of the garrison, consisting
of 7 British officers and 150 Rajputs, were reported to be holding out in the
barracks, with one month’s supplies and plenty of ammunition.
Bushire.
Wassmuss was said to have left Kazerun to join Soulat, and to be at Khan-i-
Zenian.
The Khans of Borazjun, Tangistan and Chahkutah wrote to the 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.
to enquire the objective and probable line of advance of the new troops which have
recently arrived here. They were informed that the presence of the. force was
due to the hostile actions of Soulat-ed-Dowleh, and that at present no orders had
been received for their employment.
Kerman.
~ • •
The outbreak of cholera referred to last month has been very severe m spite
of the quarantine measures taken at the outset by Captain Roy, I.M.S. One of
its results has been the withdrawal from Anar of the South Pfersia Rifles post which
used to patrol the Yezd road so effectively that for two months not a single caravan
robbery occurred in the whole province. There were qver 1,509 .deaths, in-the-,
town from this disease during the month, and 34Tamong |ie de^chmen^ ^ South j
nm
UA' 1 ' k" ' *
iw gO
13 DEC
8 JAN
i 'J
S3
IS VO
t %<? * •—