تقارير إدارية من الخليج العربي ١٨٨٣/١٨٨٤ – ١٩٠٤/١٩٠٥ [ظ‎‎٢‎٣‎٤] (٦٠٢/٤٧٣)

ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
6. Persian
arabistan.
7. Fars and
Persian Coast,
8. Persian
Baluchistan,
9. Slave
Trade.
10- Piracies
and disturb
ances at sea.
that Shaikh Mubarak had made his way far into the interior. Towards the
end of March, however, reports reached Bushire that Shaikh Mubarak had
experienced a decisive defeat. Details are not yet forthcoming.
The Wali of Easrah succeeded in inducing Shaikh Mubarak to pay his
long promised visit to Basrah in November last. I visited Koweit on two
occasions during the year, and I had an interview with Shaikh Mubarak on the
first occasion. At the time of my second visit he was absent from Koweit.
H. M. S. Sphinx has also visited the place.
Erom reports which have reached the Eesidency, affairs in Persian
Arabistan appear to have been quiet during the year. His Royal Highness the
Ain-ud-Dowleh, who was Governor-General, proceeded to Tehran about the
end of December to spend " Eamazan " there. He has since been appointed
Governor of Tehran, and is succeeded by His Royal Highness Salar-ed-Dowleh
as Governor-General of Arabistan, Luristan, etc.
It was confidently expected that the Persian Government would take over
the direct management of the Mohammerah Customs, placing the same under
the control of the Belgian Director-General at Bushire. The income derived
from the Mohammerah Customs has, for years, formed one of the perquisites
of the Shaikh of Mohammerah, who pays an annual tribute to the Persian
Government. The direct assumption by the Government of the control of the
Customs will be a very unpopular measure, from the point of view of the
Shaikh and the Arab tribes acknowledging his control, and may possibly give
rise to serious trouble, but it is not likely that the introduction of the measure
will be much longer delayed.
Towards the end of May, the Bakhtyaris were building the Dupalan
bridge on the Ispahan road, and three Ispahan Kafilas had arrived at Ahwaz
with almonds and dried fruits for sale, and purchased goods for the return
journey. More caravans were said to be on the way, and a number of pilgrims
for Meshed travelled by the new route early in June.
His Royal Highness the Moayid-ud-Dowleh was Governor-General of Pars
during the year. He appears to have been somewhat weak, and Shiraz and
the districts were in their usual disturbed state. The Kowam-ul-Mulk appears
to have maintained fairly good order among the Nomad tribes.
Nothing of particular interest occurred at Lingah during the year.
At Bandar Abbas, Lieutenant Hunt remained as British Vice-Consul
during the year. Trade at this port has greatly declined during the year, the
reasons given being that the new trade route from Quetta via Nushki and
Seistan has diverted a good deal of the trade which used to find its wav to
Bandar Abbas, and also that Russian imports into Khorassan have increased,
Shaikh Hassan, the Zabit of Kishm, has been removed and was succeeded hv
Shaikh Abdulla. y
Mr. Whitby-Smith, Director, Persian Gulf Telegraphs, who is in nolitical
charge of the Makran Coast, visited the Coast in November last. It had been
arranged through Major Sykes, His Britannic Majesty's Consul at Kerman, that
a Persian official should meet him at Charbar to inquire into, and, if possible,
effect a settlement of the numerous outstanding claims of British subjects,
The official left Kerman, but did not go any further than Bampur, whence he
returned to Kermah. His failure to come to Charbar was probably due to Mir
Hashim Khan, the Sartip of Bampur, against whom various British Indian
subjects are very loud in their complaints. The failure of the official to come
to Charbar and the conduct of Hashim Khan have been brought to the notice
of the British Legation at Tehran.
Twelve slaves took refuge in the Bushire Residency during the year, and
were, after the customary correspondence with the Persian authorities, granted
their freedom. Three of them were, at their own request, sent to Zanzibar,
and the remainder stayed in Bushire where they were able to find employment.
Three piratical outrages took place within the Gulf during the year, only
one of which was of a really serious nature, a Bahrein boat which was engaged
in pearl-fishing off Ras Tanura, near Katif, being attacked by robbers from
Darain in Turkish territory, and property of the value of Rs. 3,924 being
carried off. The case was reported to the Turkish authorities, who appear to
have acted with a certain degree of energy, and to have arrested some of the
robbers and obtained the restoration of a portion of the stolen property.
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