"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎٣‎٤] (٦١٦/٧٣)

52
ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
His Highness Ain-ul-Mulk was appointed Deputy Governor of Kennan
and His Highness Adil-ud-Dowlah, Wazir. These are both brothers to His
Highness Eukn-ud-Dowlah.
The Mullah Mohamed Eeza had instructed his disciples to destroy
certain liquor shops in the bazaar. The owners complained to the Governor
who took steps to arrest the offenders. The latter, however, had succeeded in
taking bast, or refuge, with the Mujtehid who declined to give them un
Troops were then sent who seized the Mullah together with the offenders and
took them to the Palace where they were all bastinadoed.
The Mullah with his band of hope were then escorted out of Kerman bv
Asfandiar Khan, chief of the Buchakchi tribe, and some of his men, and were
sent to Rafsinjan. (The chief himself was released from prison on the
occasion.) Four men were killed and some more wounded in making the
arrest.
Two facts were brought to prominent notice in the course of these dis
turbances. (1) That the Kermanis are not really fanatically inclined. Thev
are a weak and servile population easily led by their mischievous and arrogant
priesthood, and as easily dispersed by a show of force, and the power of^the
Mullahs themselves is consequently not of a nature to withstand any severe
strain put on it. (2) The principle of bast, similarly, could, it appeared, be set
aside on occasion without exciting any outburst of popular indignation. As
regards this most pernicious system it should perhaps be explained that it
constitutes the Consulates, the houses of Mullahs, and in some cases even
of European^ private gentlemen and ladies places of temporary refuge for
offenders against the laws and customs of their country.
On the, 1st November the Sarkar Agha, head of the Sheikhi sect, was
grossly insulted while preaching in his Mosque, a donkey arrayed with a
turban being pushed amongst the audience. The Agha on the.representation
of the Governor left Kerman the next day for Baghin, one march distant.
Dissensions arose at this time amongst the Balasiris themselves, their
women taking side in the matter.
A telegram denouncing the Sheikhis was at this time received from
Kerbela, and a meeting was held by the leading men of Kerman at which the
Shah and his Government were openly reviled, Uussia being held up to ad
miration as a country determined on reform at all costs. The want of leaders
in the case of Persia was recognised as fatal.
The Governor left for Tehran in the end of November, nominally to see
the Shah m person regarding affairs in Kerman,
Captain Haworth left for India at the same time, but Colonel Stewart,
his successor, was detained both in Bombay and Bunder Abbas, and only
reached Kerman on the 10th January one month after he had expected to
arrive.
On his arrival he found that the Adil-us-Sultana had been appointed to
0 t^ nu 8 j. verrior » P en ding the arrival of the Ferman Ferma from Kerman-
+ Vu -J-l 1 ® disturbances had by this time practically died out probably owing
to the effect of the vigorous action taken by the then Governor, and the sub
sequent removal from Kerman of the head priests of the rival factions.
^ Nothing, however, could be effected as regards the transaction of urgent
business, all references on such subjects being met with the reply that the
matter must await the Ferman Ferma's arrival,
• +1 ^ which has since assumed importance from the notice given it
m t le Russian Press consisted in the arrival of a certain Prince Amatuni,
escnbe byM- Miller as the right hand man of the Grand Duke Michael
Michaelovitchj on a Commercial Mission. He travelled from Kerman via Bam
-r L1I AT er ^bas, holdmg meetings of the local merchants in Kerman and
+i, an T? ^ ^ afc en ^^ sl ^ sm seems to have been excited by his advent, though
the Russian Consul M. Miller's efforts were added to his own.
~ 11 February the Russian Consul M. Miller was ordered to proceed to
e ^ran as Secretary to the Legation. He was succeeded in due course by