"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٧] (٦١٦/٤٥٨)

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1909. 37
In June 1909, Shaikh Hanzal, Deputy Governor of Nasiri, was arrested
on a charge of conspiracy against Shaikh Khazal, and imprisoned. It is
difficult to say whether the charge was well founded or seriously believed by
Khazal, hut the occasion was undoubtedly a convenient one to enable the latter
to send his eldest son Chasib, Nusrat-ul-Mulk, to Nasiri as Deputy Governor,
on his return in August from Dizful where he had been acting in a similar
capacity. The change much improved this young man, who had suffered not
a little in health and character from association with men of indifferent
character in Mohammerah.
Shaikh Abdul Majid, a little son of the Shaikh, was nominally Governor
of Fallahiyah, throughout the year, four of the principal Shaikhs acting as
a council of regency under his nominal control.
Another baby son ('Abdullah) of the Shaikh was nominal Deputy
Governor in Hindi an throughout the year, the actual government being
carried on by his mother's father, Mir 'Abdullah of Hindian, who also con
trolled the districts of M'ashur and Jarrahi.
The Karguzar at Mohammerah for the past three years—Saad-es-Sultan
—exchanged posts with the Ittila-ed-Dowleh, Karguzar of Bushire, who had
to leave the latter town owing to difficulties with the Darya Begi. Saad-es-
Sultan had given satisfaction to all classes, and his departure was univer
sally regretted.
His successor accused him of pro-German tendencies, with what truth it
is hard to say : he himself always professed an impartial standpoint with
regard to foreigners, and this attitude may have given rise to the charge
against him.
He was in receipt of substantial presents from the Shaikh and from Haji
Rais, and may have been somewhat pro-German in the days when Haji Rais
was the agent of R. Wonckhaus & Co. in Mohammerah.
Monsieur Leleux was replacel in April by M. Zwinne, on transfer of
n x . - • . • 1. 'the former to Bushire. Although the
Customs Administration. . n rq iij
latter was personally agreeable, and had
the reputation of being perfectly clean-handed, he caused much annoyance to
the Shaikh, and to British and native firms, by introducing harsh and novel
interpretations of the Customs Regulations, enforcing fines, and causing
rigorous and unnecessary searches to be made.
His attitude was probably due partly to a desire to perform his duty
conscientiously, partly to his inherent tendency to adhere to the letter rather
than to the spirit of the regulations, enforcing fines, the insistent demands
for remittances by the Central Government.
Smuggling continued unabated throughout the year. The Customs Ad-
tninistration are powerless at present to check it, and the Shaikh, on financial
and political grounds, is unwilling to assist them.
No cases of plague occurred during the year. Assistant Surgeon G. C.
_ Rehling, I.S.M.D., continued to hold the
Quaran me. position of Quarantine Medical Officer
for the port throughout the year. The service was maintained satisfactorily
and without any friction.
The local Persian Postal Service was satisfactorily carried on, and no
losses or serious outrages were reported.
, 08 s ' A postman was attacked near Kut
Abdallah (Nasiri) in December, but the mails were not touched.
The Arabistan Telegraphs Convention was signed on the 17th June,
and at the end of the year awaited the
Telegraphs. necessary ratification by the Persian
Medjliss-
The Persian Telegraphs worked most unsatisfactorily throughout the
year, and were a source of much annoyance to British firms in Arabistan.
A proposal by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, to join with the
indo-European telegraph Department in running a telegraph wire down
W pipe line and in sharing the cost was not accepted by the Department.