'Administration Reports 1905-1910' [‎223v] (451/616)

CHAPTER III.
administration eeport of the bandar abbas agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
for the year 1909.
General. The condition of the districts of Bandar Abbas and Minab
has been much disturbed throughout the greater part of the year owing
chiefly to the evil influence of Seyyid Abdul Husexn of Lar, who, from the
beginning of the year till his deportation to Shiraz in November, continued to
send out emissaries and letters inciting the people to rebellion
His efforts, aided by the preaching of iseyyid Assadulla Ispaham, pro
duced the so-called "Nationalist" revolution which broke out in Bandar
Abbas on March 16th. The movement, so far as the vast majority of the
people were concerned, had little to do with " Nationalism " in any real sense
of the term. The people as a whole were partly excited by, partly afraid of,
the Seyyid of Lar, and their excitement was added to by the fulmmations of
Seyyid Assadulla. It was taken advantage of by a few influential and un
scrupulous persons who profited by the misappropriation of a considerable
portion of the Customs receipts. , , . , ^ ^ ^
The movement maintained an orderly character throughout partly
through the influence of Seyyid Assadulla, who appears to have teen an intelli
gent and high-minded man, and partly through that of Misbah-i-Diwan. The
latter became Deputy Governor on the outbreak of the rebellion in addition to
his duties as Deputy Karguzar. He is a man whose every instinct is opposed
• to nationalist ideals, but he led and controlled the movement from motives of
policy and private gain. ^ ,,
The revolution came to an end in the middle of May after the Shan s pro
clamation had announced the re-grant of the Constitution, and after the re
turn of His Excellency Darya Begi to the Governorship of the Gulf Ports.
Simultaneously with the close of the revolution Seyyid Abdul Husem
was driven from Lar by Nasr-ed-Dowleh. He however retained all his power
for evil and continued to exercise it to the full with the result that the town
of Bandar Abbas remained in a constant state of panic, the district in a con
stant state of disturbance and trade practically at a standstill.
In August the Seyyid succeeded in re-entering Lar and re-assertmg his
influence there. Shortly afterwards hbwever his tyranny, mischief making
and utter irresponsibility had become so intolerable that his deportation to
Shiraz was decided on by the central Government and was effected m
November. * e ^ a
With his departure the quiet of the country and the safety ot the roads
were restored immediately. The country people however continued to some
extent to resist payment of the revenue demand, and up to the end of the cal-
t endar year this demand had not been met in full. ttt- tt t
Consulate—Ch&vge of the Consulate was held by Captain W. M. l.
Shakespear to 13th April 1909, by Captain C. F. Mackenzie from 14th April
to 19th May 1909 and by Captain M. E. Hae from 20th May to the end oi the
On December 13th orders were received reducing the status of the Con
sulate to that of a Vice-Consulate and limiting its jurisdiction to the d^trict
of Bandar Abbas up to the Khamir boundary, the districts of bhamilat ana
Minab, and the islands of Hormuz, Larak, Kishm, and Henjam.
The personal rank of Consul is however to be retained by the mcumDeni
of the office. , •
Telegraphs. —The Telegraph office at the Consulate was opened to i
national work on September 9th, a convenience which has been much appre
ciated and utilised in spite of the heavy scale of charges.
M. E. RAE, Captain,
Assistant Resident and His Britannic Majestys Consul,
Bandar A bbas.