"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٦‎٣] (٦١٦/٥٣٠)

ADMN. REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOB 1910.
28
was called to discuss certain proposals put forward by the Director of Cus
toms at Bushire. It was proposed to establish bonded warehouses, to be
erected by local merchants, for goods imported for transhipment, which would
enter and leave the Port duty free, paying only the ordinary office dues for
import and export papers plus 2 per cent, to cover the cost of the extra super
vision entailed.
The merchants however thought this would be little or no advantage and
rejected the proposal. They held out for a reduction in the Tariff to 5 per
cent, ad valorem as the only means of reviving trade at Lingah.
Smuggling. —Tea, coffee, and arms are smuggled on the Coast to the
West and East of Lingah with comparative ease, and, although the Customs
launch " Khorasan " has made many trips on the Coast, no captures have been
made.
Condition of Country.
Shil Kuh Districts.—The Coastal Districts to the West of Lingah known
as Shib Kuh are split up into the following groups :—
District.
Islands.
Shaikh or Chief.
Moghu
Including the Island of Farur .
Shaikh Ahmed-bin-Rashid Marzooqi
(deceased) succeeded by Shaikh
Sultan in December.
Charak
Including the Islands of Gaiz
Shaikh Saleh bin Muhammad AI Ali.
Taona
Shaikh Muhammad bin Rahman.
Kalat
Shaikh Ibrahim bin Abdulla Hamadi.
Cheroo
Including the Island of Hinderabi
Shaikh Abdulla Abaidali.
Mugam
Including the Island of Shaikh Shuaib
Shaikh Ahmed Hamadi.
Revenues are mostly paid to Fars, through the Khan of Bastak as de
scribed in the Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, the only alterations being in re
spect to the Charak and Taona districts. The former Shaikh continues to pay
850 tomans per annum, repitesenting the revenue of Gaiz Island, to the Khan
of Bastak, while the revenue of the Charak district (1,410 tomans per annum)
is paid to the Governor-General at Bushire. The Taona Shaikh also pays
140 tomans per annum to the Governor-General at Bushire. Shaikh Ahmed
bin Rashid Marzooqi of Moghu died in December and was succeeded by his
eldlest son Shaikh Sultan.
All Shib Kuh Shaikhs, except perhaps the Shaikhs of Cheroo and Taona,
are disposed to be very friendly to the British.
In September a fracas occurred between the Shaikhs of Moghu and
Charak districts and both parties indulged in petty acts of piracy which
fizzled out when they were warned by His Majesty's Vice-Consul that their
action entailed serious consequences.
Warawis. —In the middle of October news was received that the Chiefs
of the Warawi, Gaobandi, and Ishkanu districts, lying to the westward of
Mugam, had collected a large force for the purpose of a raid on Shib Kuh,
with Lingah as their objective. Further news of the advance of the attack
ing force necessitated the presence of a ship at Lingah for the protection of
the lives and property of foreign subjects. H. M. S. " Fox " arrived on the
24th October. Ax the time the town guard consisted of 10 tofangchis, which
number was supplemented by 60 from Bandar Abbas. The entire popula
tion was much alarmed. Money was freely subscribed by the merchants to
build 10 stone Sangars on the outskirts of the town as a defence against
attack. By the 27th October the Warawi force had captured the passes lead-
into Shib Kuh territory, which the Shaikh of Mugam endeavoured to