"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٣‎٠‎٧] (١٧٨٢/٤٥٠)

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and guarantees was that of utilising- as a financial pledge the customs of
Southern Persia, which from the British point of view it was essential
should not m any circumstances be alienated to Jlussia. Steps for guarding
against this danger had been taken by the British Government as & early as
189^ when first the possibility of a loan being made by Russia to Persia
had been foreseen; and in 1898, when an advance was drawn by Persia
against the intended British loan of that year, the custom house of Bushehr
was actually placed for a short time under British' control. During this
period local contests were Avaged between British and Russian political
influence m various provinces,—in Khurasan and Sistan, and even in
Central and Western Persia,—which are described more particularly in
another place.
With these preliminary remarks we pass to local questions in the
Persian provinces adjoining the Gulf.
In Northern ; Arabistan there was some failure of good order even Northern
before the end of Nasir-ud-Din Shah's reign, and in the first years of his ' ArabistSn -
successor the state of matters there grew worse. In 1894 the Dizful-
Khuiramabad road was closed, and in 1896-96 the surroundings of Dizful
itself were disturbed. From 1896 to 1898, with one brief interval, the
districts of Northern 'Arabistan lay at the mercy of Arabs and Bakhti-
yans, and even in the towns of Dizful and Shushtar the rule was
that of armed and disorderly elements.
In Southern 'Arabistan the period was characterised by the final dis- Southern
appearance of the Ka ab Shaikhdom of Fallahiyeh, which was absorbed in ^rabistgn.
the Muhaism Shaikhdom of Muhammareh, the latter thus becoming co
extensive with the sub-province. The attitude of the Shaikh of Muham
mareh had, for various reasons, been one of hostility to the British since
the opening of the Karun to navigation in 1888 ; but in 1897, on the
assassination of Shaikh Miz'al and the accession of Shaikh Khaz'al to
power, there was a change. The new Shaikh not only showed himself
very well disposed towards British interests and representatives, but pre
sently, made anxious by the general course of events in Persia and still
more;so by an obvious intention on the part of the central Government to
do away with his local autonomy, secretly endeavoured to place himself
under British protection. In response to his overtures he was informed
that the British Government could not undertake to maintain his indepen
dence either against Persia or in the case of a dissolution of Persia; but
promises of friendly advice and support were given him.
r .ie goneial weakening of authority throughout Persia extended to the Persian Coast
Persian Coast and Islands. In 1897-98 nine different Governors of the aad Is]ands '
29 a