"تقرير إداري عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط عن الفترة ١٨٩٥-١٨٩٦" [و‎‎٢‎٦‎٠] (٩٢/١٤)

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RESIDENCY AND MASEAT POLITICAL AGENCY EOR THE YEAH 1895-96. 7
clear orders, but it gradually became apparent that the cause of the malcontents
gained ground, iirst the Hamal Bashi, who had been allowed to draw into his
own hand altogether too many functions and too much power, and who had
become the object of very general resentment, suddenly fled, and this was followed
early in March by the resignation by the Kowam-ul-Mulk of the Governorship
a fortnight before the Vernal equinox from which all changes and new appoint
ments in Persia date. Temporary and imperfect arrangements for the divided
control of public affairs were somewhat tardily made, but these nevertheless
owing to the fact that the popular party was ^ in the ascendant, sufficed to
maintain order.
Haji Mirza Abdullah Khan, who had long been Karguzar, and had also
latterly held the Deputy Governorship of Bushire, died in June 1895.
During the year under report Shiraz has not been exempt from the evils
from which it lias suffered in late years—the results both of natural causes and
maladministration. The oft repeated tale has continued throughout the year
of disorder, plunder, and the laying waste of cultivation by various sections of
the nomads; of general lawlessness, resistence to authority, and risings against
petty local Governors; of attacks by one tribe on another, and of punitive
expeditions or raids directed by the authorities to recover revenue or to coerce
the refractory. The Kushkais generally and the Yekdar section of that tribe in
particular were prominent in disorder. In October an arrangement, in the
usual spirit of Persian dealings with the nomads, was reported to have been
arrived at with the lawless tribe, and appears to have taken the form of a com
promise of the terms of revenue to be paid, and the presentation of a khillat.
The Baharloos also have been very turbulent. An expedition for the
arrest of one of the leaders was sent under the conduct of another chief of the
same tribe in May ; there was a collision between the parties, and immediately
afterwards it was reported that orders from the Central Government for assur
ances of safety to the leader whom it was sought to arrest had been received.
A little later the leader of the arresting expedition himself fled, and, assuming
open hostility, took to pillage and violence.
An example of the lengths to which, under the method of the Govern
ment, arbitrary violence under the guise of authority can proceed, appears in
the measures for the arrest of an offender of the Soorkhi tribe. The Command
er of the Governor's bodyguard being sent on this duty was reported to have
attacked the people of the tribe, and indiscriminately plundered their property
to a. very large amount, thus driving them into outlawry.
A case of oppression of a Russian (Shirwani) subject called forth a most
vigorous remonstrance from that Government, with the result that the Ferrash
Bashi who had seized and beaten him in enforcing a demand for taxes was
sent with the usual apparatus to the house of the victim, and only escaped
severe public punishment by the grace of the outraged party on an ample
apology being made by two high officials.
Some insecurity prevailed on the road near Shiraz and towards Ispahan.
In June the courier with legation despatches for Bushire was shot by robbers;
he finally recovered. The Persian post was three times attacked towards Ispahan,
parcels to a large amount being plundered, and the posthorses were carried
off close to Shiraz.
Locusts appeared in spring and complaints of their ravages near Shiraz
and in other parts of the province continued till July.
The districts included in the Governorship of Bushire and the Gulf ports
were not free from disorder. In Dashtistan an attempt to transfer the sole
charge of a tract to one of the two chiefs who had hitherto shared it, was resisted
by the other, Ahmed Khan, who shot his rival dead. A punitive expedi
tion was then organised under instructions from the capital, a detachment
with a small naval gun being sent out. Ahmed Khan being joined by some
of the people of Tangistan and Shabankara was able to maintain his resistance,
till a small reinforcement was despatched, and at the same time, orders to
effect an amicable settlement. He was then induced to present himself at
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