File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎481r] (966/1044)

Customa,
(b). The “ Persepolis ” returned from Bushire on the 26th March and landed 75
tofangchis under Shaikh Ahmed Khan. The total number of tofangchis now at
lingah is about 135.
303. Monsieur Collette, Director of Customs, left for Bandar Abbas by the
<< persepolis ” on the 12th March and returned by the Customs launch “ Tehran ”
on the 18 th.
304. A notification of the sale by auction of 1,400 bags of dates by the Revenue
Department issued on the 29th March was signed by Monsieur L. Collette, (the
Director of Customs), as Rais-i-Maliyeh.
Local feeling is rather against the Customs taking up the work of the Revenue
Department.
305. (Attach on Lingah).—At the end of February news Received that the ^Condition °f
Varavi and Turakama tribes, to whom the rifles captured by H. M. S. “ Tamil ” oun y<
were consigned, were seriously contemplating an attack on Lingah to revenge the
recent capture of their rifles. It was also reported that 200 of these tribesmen
had entered Shib Kuh territory and were holding the Tang-i-Khiyal pass, in the
Mugam district which is regarded as the key to a direct entry into Shib Kuh and
to Lingah.
This news was confirmed on the 7th instant by the receipt of many letters from
Shib Kuh Shaikhs and from Ishkanu, indicating the enemy’s fixed determination
to make an early advance on Lingah.
The Yaravis and Turakamas were said to be assisted by the Shaikhs
Calehdar and Gabandi districts, while Shaikh Abdullah Abaidli of Chiru, a Shib
Knh Shaikh, who adopted a treacherous and opposing attitude during a similar raid
in October 1910, was reported to be in sympathy with the enemy.
Shaikh Ahmed Hamadi of Mugam, as before, loyally did his utmost to check
an advance into his territory, but, owing to the treachery of Shaikh Abai i o
Chiru who was assisted by 200 of the enemy, he was compelled to defend himself
in the’ fort at Marbakh, near the Tang-i-Khiyal pass.
When at Chiru on the 1st March Khan Bahadur Agha Bedr beard °f a move-
' „ ? ^ canture him Shaikh Abdullah Abaidli is suspected of being impli
cated in tMs withte band of Varavis and Turakamas who are his guests and who
are engaged in plundering the Hamadis. It is thought that something of the
kind may have been attempted had it not been for the timely arrival at Chiru of
II. M. S. “ Fox.”
ledgedhis^nabihtyCo protect feitisCldCanTpro^erty with the 10 or 14 tofangchis
at his disposal. * ^ ^ ,
n ryi-K March the Denutv Governor was informed that the Consulate guard
to protect British interests he made a vigorous protest against this course.
H. M. S. “ Perseus ” arrived at 6 30 P.M., on^the^Sth March^with
80 troops of the 7 th Rajputs, and KL •&, M landing was postponed by
with 50 men to increase the Consulate guara.Du of s two British Officers,
order of the Commander-in-Chief. Th P t-heTtb (D C 0., Rajputs
asutss x&ras, sriiriy ^ 1
best efforts to induce the populace to raise some opposition and tailed
On the 11th March by order of the Pobtioal ^^^.“honghUo bTirsym-
Shib Kuh Shaikhs of Chiru and Cbaiak di > , „. g Britannic Majesty’s
pathy with the enemy threatemng Lingah, were , enemy to pass through
Vice-Consul, that if they in any way d 0r "J“Tlctio'n would be
their territory, their complicity would be assumed anu
taken against them by His Britannic Majesty s ships.