File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎327v] (659/1044)

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Finance Agent.
Nomads.
Local Officials.
being held up until some arrangement can be come to regarding an European in
structor ; and meanwhile the money which is being expended on the worthless
rabble which constitutes the present armed forces of the province, is being utterly
wasted.
(/) During the week ending 30th August traffic was proceeding normally
on both roads. There was a skirmish on the 29th on the Puzeh Siah (north of
Dehbid) between some Arabs and the tufangchis guarding a caravan, and the
Arabs were driven off taking only one mule with them.
^ (g) Rahdari is said to have been abolished by the Ghazanfur-es-Saltaneh in
the Borasjun district, but it is taken as usual in the Dalaki and Konar Takhteh
areas.
(Ji) During the week ending 6th September traffic on both roads was normal.
No robberies were reported on the roads, although some village caravans had been
looted here and there by the Kashgais in the districts.
(i) During the week ending 13th September traffic on the Bushire road was
normal. On the Ispahan road it was inconsiderable. No robberies were reported
on the main road.
1015. During the week ending 16th September Monsieur Stas returned from
his tour in the districts of Kafrak and Marvdasht, where he has visited and inspected
the various properties recently confiscated from the Arabs. He informed the Consul
that eight fine villages, with their orchards, gardens, lands and live stock, had fallen
into the possession of the Persian Government, and Monsieur Stas was then occupied
in arranging for their proper administration. At present, owing to lack of public
confidence, it is unlikely that if these properties were offered for sale they would
fetch a fair price, and the finance department therefore proposes for the present to
manage them itself. In any case a large and quite unforeseen profit will accrue
to the administration. In view of the fact that the claim of British subjects m Ears
now amount to over one million Krans (nearly £200,000 sterling), and that the
money which enabled the Kawam-ul-Mulk and the gendarmerie to subdue the
Arabs and to take possession of these properties in the name of the Persian Govern
ment was advanced by the British Government, the Consul has proposed to His
Majesty’s Minister that all profits to be derived from these properties in excess
of the ordinary revenue should be devoted by the Persian Government to the
liquidation of our claims in this province.
1016 (a) The tribes are on the south move. All the Arabs have passed
Dehbid, and are behaving pretty well on the whole, although there have been some
skirmishes with caravans, and some interruptions of the telegraph line. The
Kashgais are approaching Baiza, and some robberies of villagers have been reported
from round about Guyam and Aradakan.
(b) The attitude of Saulat-ed-Daulah is not altogether satisfactory, and the
Governor-General has consulted the Consul as to the best means of bringing pressure
to bear upon him, if necessary. He has paid 10,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. as an instalment of his
revenue, and Monsieur Stas hopes to obtain further sums from him before he crosses
the main road on his way to his winter quarters.
Lingeh.
1st August to 30th September.
Furnished by Mr. R. H. New.
1st to 31st August.
1017. Saiy'd Hussein (Hassam-e-Saadat), formerly Deputy Karguzar of Lingeh
and Bunder Abbas, arrived from Bunder Abbas by the Customs’ ship “ Muzafieri ”
on the 7th August. He has now been appointed Mufatish-e-Hookumat by His
Excellency the Mowaqqar-ed-Dowleh, wffiose letter of authority he presented to the
Deputy Governor.
1018. With reference to paragraph 911 regarding the fracas which resulted in
the closing of the Customs House, the dispute between the Deputy Governor and