File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎284v] (573/1044)

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142. Business for the past month or so has been very dull, and the rates of
exchange have been rising, which is likely to hit the Hindu merchants very hard.
They received a friendly warning from the Bank, before it was yet too late, but fail
ed to take advantage of it.
Kermanshah.
(From 19th December 1913 to 22nd January 1914.)
[Kindly furnished by Mr. Consul McDouall.]
(Kurdistan.)
Condition of 143. The Turkish Consul from Hamadan arrived on 3rd January to enquire
Country. i n t 0 a n attack lately made on Government offices. They await the arrival of
the Persian Commissioner Imad-ud-Dauleh. The Consul arrested some men in
connection with the attack, but released them after three days. It is said that
the men threatened to give evidence inculpating the Consul if they were detain
ed. Some of the goods have been recovered.
Condition of Roads. 144. Mansur-us-Sultaneh, Assistant Persian Commissioner, with Engineer and
Military members of Persian Frontier Commission, arrived from Hamadan on the
evening of the 19th December 1913 and left for Mohammareh via Baghdad on the
morning of 22nd travelling by horse, not post, to Khanikin. They should arrive
at Baghdad in eight or ten days. While they were on their way to Kasr-i-Shirin, some
road-guards began to collect fees from the men in charge of their baggage. An
altercation occurred with the two Cossacks who were with the baggage and a Cossack
shot a road-guard dead. The others took the body to Salar Muzaffar, the Military
member, who was some way behind and he promised to make enquiry on arrival at
the end of the stage. A Saiyid in a village beyond sent to say that as they had
killed one of his men he would fight them in the morning. They went on very
early and coming to the Saiykks village, found him collecting men. They said they
were ready to fight. He said that as they had come to his village, they were his
guests. A sum was paid to the heirs of the deceased and all was arranged. Another
version is that Samsam-ul-Mamalik heard at Kasr what was going on and sent an
express to the Saiyid to say that he would hold him responsible for any trouble
caused to the Persian Government Commissioners, and would act without reference
to Farman Farma.
145. Khabir-us-Sanaya, Telegraph Superintendent, who has been engaged in
re-making line to Kasr has come in and informed Farman Farma that the road-
guards made him pay sixteen tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and the Kalkhanis say they will not allow
poles to be erected in their district unless they are paid five krans per pole.
146. The telegraph to Kasr has now reached Kerind from Kermanshah, about
half way, but some of the new poles have already been stolen.
147. At the end of December, Kermanshah roads were safe, but exactions on
road to Baghdad were worse than ever owing to increase of freight in consequence
Russian goods have been penetrating to Kasr-i-Shirin.
148. No caravans of merchandise came in durng the second week in January, but
pilgrims reported that the Kalhur did not collect fees from them, the Kalkhani did.
From Kasr merchants heard that freight had dropped slightly thence to Kerman
shah.
No road-fees collected during the following week, but few caravans arrving at
this season.
149. Posts arriving regularly one day quicker from the north. Baghdad post
was arriving in six days twice a week, but owing to mild weather in the middle of the
month the road in places became impassable by carts owing to the depth of mud,
and the post from Baghdad was delayed and brought on by mules. At end of period
under report the post from Tehran arrived in six days, an improvement, and seven
teen days from London via Tehran ; but seven days from Hamadan, twenty-three
from London vid Hamadan.