"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٠] (٦١٦/٤٤)

RESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1905-1906,
23
finally able to make purchases to the value of E4a j 000. The party left for
Europe in October expressing their intention of returning for the following
season.
A distioguished Australian eye specialist, Dr. Kenny of Melbourne, arrived
at Bushire in March 1906 with introductions from His Majesty's Foreign
Office and travelled to Shiraz, Ispahan and Tehran, for the purpose of investi
gating diseases of the eye, which are very prevalent in Persia.
In March, Mr. G. Pilgrim of the Geological Survey of India who had spent
the winter in geological exploration in the Gulf Kegion, journeyed across the
Mussendum Promontory from Dibba to Ras-el-Khaima in order to get an
idea of the mountain system. On his return he was conveyed in H.M.S.
Lapwing to the vicinity of Halool Island, just north of which a
spring of Bitumen had been reported. No trace of it, however, could be
found.
The Persian newspaper RaU-el-Matin issued in Calcutta which has a
wide circulation in Persia has continued
vernacular Newspapers. throughout the year to publish anti-English
articles in connection with various current topics. The Seistan Missiop.
and the meeting at Gharbar between Persian and British officials for the settle
ment of pending claims in Mekran and Perso-Baluchistan have furnished it
with a good deal of copy of this kind.
The Editor of the Bushire newspaper Muzafferi who, it will be
remembered, was bastinadoed by the Governor of Bushire three years ago in
connection with his comment on the episode connected with His Excellency
the Viceroy's visit, had his paper suspended for printing articles agitating for
the introduction of reforms by the Central Government. Just after the close
of the year he was summoned to Tehran in this connection but was allowed to
return after reaching Mohammerah and intends to continue his paper under a
new name.
The Odessa Company's sailings to these waters continued fitfully during
the year ; five vessels visiting the Gulf
Russian Activity. Ports at irregular intervals. Their con
signments for Busbire consisted chiefly of sugar, and on the homeward voyage
they shipped tobacco.
The Armenian soi disant Prince'' Anatouni arrived at Bushire by the
Odessa Company's S.S. Vesta and after staying a few days in Bushire left
early* in October for Shiraz, where Monsieur N. Passek, the Russian Consui-
General at Bushire, was passing the summer. Erom Shiraz, Prince Anatouni
proceeded to Ispahan and Tehran, and subsequently returning southward
via Yezd, Kerman, Bam and Bunder Abbas, reached Bushire again in March
1906 where he stayed with Monsieur Grosky, the Agent of the Russian Lines.
His doings as far as is known were chiefly limited to the endeavour to push
Bussian "sugar and piece-goods and to make enquiries-into trade conditions.
He is said to^ave spoken freely in Kerman and elsewhere of the advantages
Offered by the Bunder Abbas-Bam trade route.
The inauguration of a Russian bank and Russian Consulate in Shiraz
was promised but neither project has yet taken serious shape.
Merchants in Shiraz appear to be shy of giving orders to Russian
firms at present for the reason that commissions given last year to the
Russian House of Scheibler at Ispahan, with payment in advance, have been
six months or more overdue.
In March 1906 the death of an inhabitant of Shiraz being popularly
attributed to his having eaten Russian sugar much hostility towards the use
of the commodity was engendered in the popular mind. A parallel incident
took place at Debai on the Trucial Coast of Oman.
The Resident was on tour to an unusual extent during the year, owing
to the incidence of work in connectidi#
Resident's tours. ^ pre p ara tion ^ of the Gulf
Gazetteer as well as in the ordinary course of his political duties.