'Administration Reports 1925-1930' [‎52v] (109/418)

S ection 8.
Trade and Trade Facilities.
Trade. —The harvest was not bad in the district, but trade was still
stagnant, though showing signs of improvement towards the end of the
year. The most notable event was a proclamation making rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. no longer
current or legal tender. This is due to the new nationalistic spirit in
Persia.
Communications. —The Shiraz road became practicable early in the
spring and remained so throughout the year. There were attempts made
to improve the surface, notably at the foot of the Pir-i-Zan Kutal, where
culverts were also being put in to carry off rain water. At present there
is not nearly enough money actually spent on the road to ensure that the
surface will not deteriorate from wear and tear alone.
Security. —The insecurity of the Shiraz road, and even of Bushire
itself, has been notorious during the year. In January and February rob
beries were many in Bushire itself and the neighbouring hamlets. There
was an attempt on a house of a European, as a result of which a small party
oi troops was sent out to Tangistan to arrest the supposed .offenders, but
they were turned back by the Tangistanis without result.
In August and September there were repeated robberies on the Shiraz
road, particularly between Ahmedi, and Kunar Takhteh, with the result
thatihe Amniyeh closed the road for a few days, and the military sent down
50 cavalry and 100 infantry from Shiraz for protection purposes.
There were also local disturbances between Angali and Shabankareh,
and also between A^alu, Gilehdar, Kangan and Gabandi, which helped to
unsettle th^ tribes of the hinterland. In March too, a party of geologists
of the Anglo Persian Oil Company were robbed when out in the district
near Iskanan.
Postal facilities.—There is now a motor postal service between Boraz-
jun and Bushire, which seems to run well. M. Arjumand, the Provincial
Director, went on leave in August and was replaced by Haidar Khan Brah
man, from Shiraz. The latter seems well-disposed and agreeable and is an
improvement on his predecessor.
Foreign commercial enterfrise.—Rerr Wassmuss managed to keep
going on his farm owing to the good harvest at the beginning of the year,
but he could not do much more. This year will be critical for him.
Russian commercial activities in Bushire have been negligible. The
rumours last year of Russian trade activity came to nothing.
Opium. —7,894 cases were exported from Bushire, as against 6,227 in
1925. Part of the Commission of Enquiry appointed by the League of
Nations to enquire into opium production in Persia visited Bushire in
April. There is, of course, no opium grown locally.
Appendix I
M emorandum from M ajor M. A. N icholson , I. M .S., on the working
of the R esidency D ispensary and C haritable H ospital, B ushire
for the year 1926. ? '
Major M. A. Nicholson, I.M.S., was in charge of the 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. Dis
pensary and Charitable Hospital during the entire year with Khan Baha
dur Jemadar Maula Baksh, I.O.M. in subordinate charge. The better
service instituted in the preceding year bore fruit in 1926 with a very lame
increase in out-patient attendances and minor operations. These numbered
59,056 and 2,128 respectively. In-patient work is still hampered by want
of facilities for their proper care and nursing. This defect partly results