"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٦] (٣٩٦/٢١٨)

11 >\l
f If
FOR THE TEAS 1917. 39
The effect of the Russian Eevolution now made itself felt in Tehran and
the Minister telegraphed , that he was no longer able to support Zaffar's can
didature in face of the hostility shown to the latter by the Tehran Khans who
desired that Sardar Muhtashim and Amir Jansf should continue in office until
the tribes returned to the Ailaq when Sardars Jung and Bahadur would be sent
down, nominally to examine the situation but really as future Ilkhani and
Ilbegi. The sequel showed that this move on the part of the Tehran Khans was
mainly bluff. Their real objection to Zaffar was based, not on personal grounds,
but on the fact that he was our nominee and they hoped that if he was elected
later without our support they would be able to extort a promise from him to
oppose the presence of British representatives in the Bakhtiari country and the
formation of tribal levies. In view of the changed situation in Russia and the
circumstances attending Zaffar's election to the Ilkhaniship, it was decided to
drop the Levy Scheme for the time being.
In July Sardars Zaffar and Ashjaa were elected Ilkhani and Ilbegi respec
tively by the tribes with the consent of the Khans in Tehran. For several
months past Sardar Muhtashim had completely neglected to ensure the safety
of the Lynch Road, with the result that the Kughelus recommenced their
depredations and the road was virtually closed tliroughout the greater part of
the summer. With the advent of Zaffar a complete change took place and, by
the first week in September, His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, Isfahan,
S was able to report that unexampled order had been restored on the road.
There can be no doubt that the new Ilkhani is sincerely attached to our
interests. He has naturally iiad to contend with considerable opposition from
the party of Sardar Muhtashim and his position has been rendered more difficult
l by the general scarcity due to failure of the rains and to the ravages of locusts.
At one time he declared his intention of remaining in the high country
throughout the winter, but promises of financial assistance and of arms and
I ammunition for his projected expedition against the Kughelus have induced
i; him to change his mind.
Transport was carried on under exceptionally difficult conditions during
Lynch Road. the year under review.
! Semi-famine conditions prevailed in all sections of the road, but particu-
i larly in the hill sections, owing to the failure of the previous year's crop. The
cost of barley at some stages reached the hitherto unheard of figure of Krans
30 per Shah maund, but even at this figure it was frequently unobtainable at
some stages. Muleteers have in consequence had a very bad time and many of
them have become bankrupt. The rate of mortality among their animals was
also high, the result of overloading and under feeding.
Kughelu raiders were very active from May to July and the notorious
Eiza Juzdani and Jaffar Quli continued to exact heavy tolls from all caravans
- between the Bakhtiari border and Isfahan.
The rate of hire rose from Krans 22 per Shah maund, in January, to Krans
28 during the following months after which easier rates ruled for the
remainder of the year, the lowest being Krans 11 per Shah maund. The ave
rage rate for upward cargo was £100 per ton and for the downward £27 per
ton. These high rates were due to the excessive price of fodder and to the
fact that the supply of transport animals was quite unequal to the demand.
In spite of these adverse conditions Messrs' Lynch Brothers have had a
record year, the weight of goods forwarded by them amounting to 46,964
cwts. as compared with 29,525 cwts. in 1916, the previous record.
Large profits have also been made by native merchants chiefly in piece
goods and sugar. The forwarding of piece goods except for goods handled by
Messrs Lynch Brothers is almost entirely in the hands of the Jewish merchants.
The 10" pipe line was completed in January 1917 since when it has h e en
continuously in commission with satisfac-
Anglo-Persian Oil Company. tory results>
Concurrently with the pipe line construction an additional pumping
station, to deal with the extra through-put, was erected at Tembi. ^ Eight
Lancashire boilers were transported up country in sections and rivetted