"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٧‎٢‎٧] (١٢٦٢/٢٤٤)

1727
5l to a Persian syndicate^ styled the Nasiri Company, of which the most
prominent members were the Malik-ut-Tujjar (Haji Muhammad Mehdi,
110lls )i Mo^tamad-us-Sultan) and the Mu^in-ut-Tujjar (Haji Agha Muhammad,
a w ealthy merchant of Bushehr). The Company were invested with
3 exclusive rights of navigation on the Karun and its branches above
Aliwaz, an exception being made in favour of the Shah^s steamer
ai ^s usa ^ the privilege of providing accommodation for Messrs. Lynch
J* Muhammareh* and Shushtar was assigned to them ; they were to
alfr® construct a quay, caravanserais, and shops at Nasiri, where they were
a gaiiisl permitted to levy landing dues except from pilgrims ; a cart or tramway
hen lit g er vice for the passage of the Ahwaz rapids was to be organised by them,
mplail f or f^e US e of which they were authorised to demand payment according
to a fixed scale; and various other advantages were conferred and duties
imposed on them by the terms of the concession, which was declared in-
W'l r ^ ^
■ capable of being transferred to foreigners.
Behind the Nasiri Company, thus established, stood the Amin-us-
g u itan ; and the Nizam-us-Sultaneh, Governor of the province; and. Shaikh
isiii,! Khan of Muhammareh having been drawn into the concern, his
^ great influeuce was utilised—though secretly—to obstruct Messrs. Lvnch.
Milk was j one deflecting business from them by order ; by manipu-
lating the customs of Muhammareh, of which the Shaikh was the farmer,
jlI % 81 so as to favour clients of the Nasiri Company ; by deterring labourers
.ted 4 f roni wor iji n g f or Messrs. Lynch; by catting off supplies from their
^ employes; and generally, by penalising relations of any sort with them
affair® on the part of natives of the country. The result in 1891-93 was that
ioescf while Messrs. Lynch obtained most of the passenger traffic, the Persian
lid to I steamers carried about four-fifths of the cargo, though their freights
were much higher.
propi Though under their concession they were required to maintain at
1 Persii least two vessels on the upper river, it is not clear that the Nasiri
16Ml Company always—or ever—did so; but by 1891 they owned in all
unrfi three steamers of which at least one, a the Nasiri63 feet long, towing
it-Tf 1 3 barges, ran on tbe lower Karun in competition with Messrs. Lynch;
ngness 1 and they had constructed, aftert twoyears^ delays Nasiri-Ahwaz portage
is to M — — ——— —
fo# 1 ! * was mentioned in this con nection in the Company's charter ; but there
too Messrs. Lynch were placed in the hands of the Mu'in-nt-Tnijar, their principal trade
river- rival and a member of the syndicate.
Ope 11 ' t In December 1890 it was found necessary to urge the Persian Government to
• ex P e ^ te the construction of this tramway and His Britannic Majesty's Minister at
Telirln obtained a formal assurance from the Shah that it would not btf longer deferred.