ملف ٢٢٩٧/ ١٩١٩ "تقارير شهرية للمقيمية البريطانية في الخليج الفارسي. ١٩١٢-١٩٢٠." [ظ‎‎٤‎٩‎٨] (١٠٤٤/١٠٠١)

appears that all these are detained at different points on the road. The post of
12th November from Yezd which arrived on 21st (three to five days is normal
time) reported robbers at Nao Gumbaz, who, however, did not molest the post.
(c). Posts of 15th and 19th November which came in on 1st December from
Yezd reported the road disturbed throughout and more particularly about Nain.
The postal authorities in Ispahan have declined to forward parcels for the
present to Yezd—an indication of the insecurity prevailing.
67 ($). Kermanshah-Sultanabad-JSamadan Road .—There is little traffic
on this road. A caravan of 150 camels, which had left Hamadan and was
reported to have been robbed near Doulatabad, arrived on 25th November.
Fourteen loads of considerable value are reported to have been carried off.
(6). A caravan of camels from Kermanshah with tea, cloth and tobacco
arrived on 30th November having taken 70 days to do the journey, coming by
a circuitous route. The camelmen said they had met with robbers on the way
who had taken four or five rifles from them but had not touched the merchan
dise.
(c) . A small caravan which arrived from Hamadan on 7th December
reported the road safe and Mr. Sulzberger who arrived on 5th December from
Sultanabad gave a similar account.
(d) . The post which left Ispahan on 26th November for Sultanabad was
attacked and robbed at Ab-i-Shir Batcheh about two miles east of Najafabad
(some 20 miles from Ispahan) on the same day. All the letters were carried off.
The parcels being very heavy were left.
68. Ahivaz Road. —Messrs. Lynch’s report for the week ending 25th
November showed 130 packages despatched and 97 received. There were 4,505
packages (of which 302 cases opium) awaiting downward despatch from Ispahan
and 118 awaiting upward despatch from Ahw r az. Messrs. Lynch’s report for
the week ending 2nd December showed arrivals nil, and 352 packages (of
which 121 opium) despatched to Ahwaz. There were 4,576 packages (of which
220 opium) awaiting downward despatch to Ahwaz and 119 packages for
upward despatch from Ahwaz.
Despatches during the week ending 9th December nil, arrivals 125
packages. There were 4,492 packages (of which 182 opium) awaiting down
ward despatch to Ahwaz and a very large quantity of merchandise in Ahwaz
awaiting upward transport.
On 11th December Messrs. Lynch gave a rosy report of the condition of
the Ahwaz road—a fair number of Chahar Mahali caravans coming in, road safe
and not blocked at any point, but the next day they reported a robbery at
Baramurda on the night of 3rd December of 12 cases opium (property of a
British firm) out of a consignment of 120 cases opium (and 10 of tragacanth)
which left Ispahan on 23rd November by camel caravan. The robbers who
were about 60 carried off, in addition, all cash and gear of the camelmen.
The latter are unable to state whether they were Bakhtiaris or Kuhgeluis.
Messrs Lynch’s report for the week ending 16th December showed 164
packages received from Ahwaz and 287 packages (of which 155 opium) des
patched to Ahwaz. There were then 4,204 packages (of which 50 cases opium)
awaiting downward despatch to Ahwaz and 1,205 packages at Ahwaz awaiting
upward transport to Ispahan.
Post of 29th November from Nasiri which arrived safely on 13th Decern-?
her reported the road all right,
Bushire.
1st to 31st January.
69(a), The chief subject of interest in Bushire during the fortnight
Condition of Country. ending 14th January was the propagation
of anti-foreign feeling. This did not
catch on very much in the town owing to indifference of the Lading
classes who realise well enough the importance of trade, especially
British. There was a good deal of preaching^pecially by three men, Shaikh