'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎556r] (15/72)

I
7
Shikkuh Area .—Shaikh Mohamed bin Ahmed Khalfan who returned to
Persia from Arabia in November 1931 renewed his resistance to the Central
authorities. He occupied Shiyu in January. He made Teben in the Shibkuk
area his stronghold and withstood all attacks. In May he visited the Arab coast
but was not cordially received by the Rulers there. Accompanied by some 200
followers he returned to Persia and occupied Asalu in June. At the end of the
year he was still resisting Persian attacks though he announced his willingness
to come to’terms and pay up arrears of revenue provided the large sums expended
by him as douceurs to the Persian military authorities were offset in the calcula
tions.
Persian Mehran (Jash and Charbar ).—In February 1932 Mir Barkat Khan,
a Chief of the Bashkard district, who had been arrested by the Persians, was
brought to Bushire en route for Tehran. His brother Mustapha Khan thereupon
decided to harass all Persian Baluchis who had assisted the Persian Government
against Mir Barkat. Together with his sons he had several not very successful
encounters with the Government troops. In May they were forced to the Arab
side, only his sons returning to Persia in June to continue their attacks on
tribesmen friendly to the Persian Government forces.
In July, after combining with Abdul Hussain of Remiskh, another rebel,
they attacked and looted the village of Old Jask and besieged the small Persian
garrison there. The next day they retreated in order before the arrival of
Persian reinforcements. Mustapha Khan eventually agreed to give up some old
and useless rifles, his sons having crossed to the Arab coast in the autumn.
Abdul Hussain of Remiskh continued to harass his following numbered
600-700 in September when he installed himself at Mehan and announced his
intention of leaving Persia should the Persian Government continue to trouble
him.
SECTION 7.
During 1932 the following slaves were manumitted by order of the Honour
able the 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. .
Slaves who escaped from the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and took refuge at—
Bahrain Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .. .. . • .. 14
Muscat Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .. • • •. .. 8
Shargah ( 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. Agent) .. .. .. 6
E. H. GASTREIjL,
Captain,
Secretary to the 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.
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
SECTION 8.
Trade and Trade Facilities.
It was generally believed at the end of 1931 that conditions were as bad
as they could be but 1932 speedily dispelled any hopes of an early revival in
trade 'arid merchants resigned themselves to the continued depression which,
throughout the year, showed no sign of improvement. The almost monthly
variations in the customs surcharge and the continual amendment of laws and
regulations reduced customs officers and merchants alike to such a state of com
plete bewilderment that it would indeed have been surprising had trade not come
to a standstill.
Trade restrictions, monopolies, exchange control, high customs tariffs, road
and other taxes have combined to make legitimate trading almost impossible,
with the result that attempts to develop healthy trade have been practically
abandoned in the struggle for existence and in the effort to find the most
profitable form of evasion. The natural outcome of the restrictions and pro
hibitions has been the development of a flourishing and profitable illicit trade
which neither the new Persian Navy nor the Customs Preventive Department is
at present capable of suppressing. Generally speaking it is understood that
the control posts along the coast have their price and so long as they find it'
LcSSSFB