'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎61r] (128/396)

FOR THE YEAR 1916.
43
chapter v.
ADMINISTRATION REPOUT POR THE PERSIAN MEKRAN COAST
EOR THE YEAR 1916.
Mr. E. E. Gunter was in political charge of the Mekran Coast through
out the year. "
Personnel.
The number of arms imported into Persian Mekran during the year was
50 rifles and a small quantity of ammuni-
Gun-runmug. ^ comparison of the statements of
imports for the year 1915 shows a great decrease, probably owing to the
exhaustion of the supply of arms on the Arab Coast. Mr. Pinsent's reports
on the traffic are enclosed.
The year under report was comparatively quiet. The chief events can
be summarised as follows :—
Persian Baluchistan.
Khalifah Muhammad Timer, mentioned in last year's report, continued to
*live at Namurdi. His attitude was inimical and he would probably have been the
cause of unrest had he survived. He sent in several claims against the Shaikh
of Debai and against other persons at Debai which, on enquiry, were found
baseless. In August he was murdered by his own slaves and two of Mir
Barkat's ryots. The murderers were caught and shot by Mir Barkat. The
chief took over the belongings of the deceased.
In January, in view of the importance of the Jask Telegraph line to the
forces in Mesopotamia, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. arranged that extra subsidies
should be paid for its protection from the British border to Jask. These
subsidies were first sanctioned for six months from 1st January and were
renewed for another six months from 1st July.
Khalifah Khair Muhammad was in Kerman district for the greater part
of the year. Extensive damage to the telegraph line was done by Jowshdans
at his instigation. During the last four months of the year little has been ^ ear d
of Khair Muhammad who has gone to Moganshaboo. This seriously interfered
with the telegraph traffic with the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Basrah, and it was decided
to lay a cable between Charbar and Jask as an alternative to the land-line.
This was done on 31st August.
The lines between Charbar and Jask were interrupted owing to wilful
damage for—
37 hours during February,
361 „ „ March,
88 „ „ April,
28 „ „ May,
24 „ „ June,
18 „ „ J^iy,
and 89 „ „ November.
With the approval of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , half of all the March extra
subsidies was disallowed.
In January Islam Khan captured and sent to Charbar a German or
Turkish Agent. Under instructions from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. he was sent
to Basrah. A reward of Rs. 5,000 was paid to Islam Khan.
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Saiyid Khan died at Gaih towards the end of April. He was
always friendly to the British Government and his death is a distinct loss. His
heir, Hussain Khan, is a minor. Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Islam Khan was appointed his
guardian by Saiyid Khan.
In July a dispute arose between Islam Khan's eldest son and his uncle,
Mirza Khan, which resulted in the death of Mirza Khan. This led to strained
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