'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎125v] (257/396)

In
ANNUAL REPOET OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
19ch August at Rudkhaneh-i-Shur, when some camels belonging to a Persian
merchant were carried off ; but these were subsequently recovered by the local
Deputy Governor.
{b) Minab and District.—HhQYQ was, practically speaking, no trouble in
the Minab District throughout 1918.
The trade of the port showed an improvement over 1917, and this is chiefly
attributable to the comparative safety of
Tra(le " the caravan routes over previous years
due to the presence of British troops in the country, although the fact of the
Bushire-Shiraz route being entirely closed, also accounted for the increase in
trade to a great extent.
Many of the Government transports visiting the port, by special arrange
ment, carried ordinary merchandise besides Military stores.
{a) The Anglo-Persian Oil Company on Kishm Island made very little
progress during the year. Frrm 1800
British interests. i i. a V. J 4-1 f ^ l! • • ,
feet, the depth of the boring was increased
to 2,200 feet, but though the prospects are still considered favourable no new
vein of oil was struck ; gas on several occasions being encountered.
The lack of shipping facilities, together with an over abundance of water
in the boring at various stages, are the two chief factors to which such slow
progress is attributed. The latter difficulty is, however, now being dealt with
as met, by the insertion of various strings of casing.
Mr. J. L. Wright was still directing operations on the Island at the close
of the year.
(6) A branch of the Imperial Bank of Persia was opened at Bandar
Abbas on the 12th of Uctober, under the management of Mr W. J. d'Alton.
During the three months it was open in 1918 the business was far better than
anticipated.
Japanese goods continued to be imported during the year. The quality
^ . of matches, silk and other goods generally
Foreign interests. .p. i ji*- r. '•
w r as still very inienor, and this is begin
ning to be recognised by the general public.
{a) Assistant Surgeon H. C. Berlie, I.M.D., held charge of the Charitable
, „ , Dispensary and Quarantine duties of the
Quarantine and Medical. j , i ± \ i u
port, up to 12th October, when he was
relieved by Assistant Surgeon C. H. Mason, I.M.D., and proceeded on leave to
India, returning on 2nd December, when he again assumed charge, remaining
in office at the close of the year.
(b) Total number of patients during the year amounted to 3,889 as
compared with 3,388 the previous year. The above figures only include new
cases.
(<?) Influenza, in epidemic form appeared about the third week in October,
and died out towards the last week in November. The epidemic was very
widespread and extremely severe. It is estimated that in the town alone there
were about 1,000 deaths.
{d) Measles in severe epidemic form occurred during the first half of the
year on two occasions. There were several deaths.
{e) Temperatures. —In the Shade—
Maximum. Minimum.
1st quarter . . . . . . .81° 52°
2nd 101° 61°
3rd 105° 79°
4th 94 0 51°
Bandar Abbas-Kerman Telegraph Line. . W Interruptions Were
during the year, neither of which was aue
to wilful damage.
(6) A slight diversion was carried out towards the end of the y par *
work was in charge of Mr. J. S. Navarra, of the Indo-European Telegrap
Department, who was placed on active service with the rank of Captain.