"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎٢‎٩] (٦١٦/٦٣)

42
ADMINISTRATION EEPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
20. FmJit-i'Kuh. —Efforts made to get into communication with the Wali
were at length crowned with success.
One of his confidential agents, Saiyid J'afar, paid a visit to Sh&kh
Khaz'al in April 1905, and occasion was taken to make his acquaintance.
He expressed a great desire on the Wali's part for our friendship, and ex
tended pressing offers of hospitality.
Later in the year, when Major Morton had gone to the Bakhtiari
country, the Wali's principal agent, Ka.id Kham came to Nasiri bearing
answers from the Wall to letters which had been sent by the hand of Saiyid
J'afar.
He was induced to leave a note of the terms proposed for the projected
Saimarra caravan route.
During spring 1906 several communications and repeated invitations
were received, but pressure of other work made it impossible to pay a visit
to the Wali, or ev^en to meet Ka,id Khani at Dizful. The latter started
on his way down to Nasiri for the second time, but was recalled on the road
by urgent affairs.
21. In the domestic affairs of Pusht-i-Kuh the chief event was the re
crudescence of hostilities between the Wali and his sons. This revolt against
paternal discipline has become a hereditary peculiaritv of the ruling family.
A composition took place in spring, and the year under report closed in
peace.
BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
22. Messrs. Lynch Bros, —The year has not been a particularly favour
able one for the operations of this firm.
Though large quantities of wheat were available from the Miyanab
and Shakha, the vexatious and unauthorised embargo placed on its export by
the Governor, the Salar Muazzam, concentrated the stream of profits into his
own pockets, and probably also those of his friends the Sardar Arf'a and
Haji Rais.
Messrs. Lynch Bros, had made considerable advances to cultivators
when the crop 'was assured, and they were left with the difficult business of -
recovering these advances in cash.
In the present seasons the embargo has again been imposed from Tehran.
Shushter crops are reported as certain to yield a bumper harvest, and Shakha
is also very good. Even down here, and on the saying of Haji Ra,is, the crops
will be good, though the area sown is limited.
The Customs Authorities have telegraphed four times to Tehran, but
without result, and up to the moment of writing (18th April 1906) no noti
fication has been received of the removal of the embargo.
In no case is an embargo against export of grain to Europe justified by
the facts. 'Ihe heavy excise on export, and the narrow margin of profit on
wheat in London, act as an automatic check, and afford ample security against
local scarcity being produced by excessive export.
23. The Bakhtiari Eoad has suffered from the disturbed state of the
country, but more from the bad state of the track. There is no room for doubt
that for a considerable period the condition of the Road has been extremely
bad, and that it is rapidly degenerating further. In gauging the reports of
travellers it is to be remembered that thiere U a difference in the demands made
by a private party, where the loads are on the whole light and there is an
abundance of attendants, and those made by the ordinary trade caravan, where
loads are heavy and animals numerous, not picked, and accompanied by the
minimum of attendants.
Leaving Lynch out of the case, the object to be aimed at would seem to be
the establishment of a permanent work party on the road, to be supplemented
when necessary, and the termination of the present system cf occasional
spasmodic efforts to repair it, when its repair has become both urgent and
diificult.