‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1897-98’ [‎322r] (13/108)

eesidency and maskat political agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the year 1897-98. 11
myself left the Coast, at the end of December 1897, returning for a few days in
April, hut throughout the five months that the Darya Begi and his party were
on the Rapch, Mr. Campbell of the Indo-European Telegraph Department
remained with him, and carried on the duties of Political Officer. A strong
escort, sometimes consisting of Blue-jackets, and sometimes of sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. from
the Marine Battalion, was kept on shore for Mr. Campbell's protection, and
was also very useful as a support to the Persians, who would otherwise have
certainly withdrawn. The Persian Government arranged that a force should be
sent from Kerman, simultaneously with the landing of the Darya Begi and
his men on the Coast. Before the murder of Mr. Graves, it had been arranged
that I should meet the Asaf-ud-Dowleh, the Governor-General of Kerman, at
Charbar in Tebruary, and arrange personally with him for the settlement of the
numerous questions which were then pending. When, in December, the state
of the country became still more disturbed, the Asaf-ud-Dowleh was ordered to
proceed south without delay, with sufficient force to ensure the pacification of
the district, and the capture of Mr. Graves'murderers. The Governor-General,
however, appears to have delayed and procrastinated, and the time that was
allowed to elapse before he reached Bampur, undoubtedly encouraged the
disaffected, and seriously hampered the efforts of the Darya Begi. Those
who would have thrown in their lot at once with him, if the Persian advance
from the north had taken place in good time, became disheartened by rumours
that the Governor-General was not coming. The Asaf-ud-Dowleh eventually
reached Bampur, but got no further, returning, when the weather got hot, to
Kerman. He was able, however, to send one of his officers, General Lutfullah
Khan, to join the Darya Begi, and he appears also to have sent out parties to
collect revenue. The Governorship of the district was taken away from
Husain Khan, who was reported to be captured. This has since been contra
dicted, and it is now stated that his son is in the hands of the Persians, who
are keeping him as a hostage till Husain Khan has paid up a heavy fine. Hu
sain Khan's rival, one Mauladad Khan, has been made Governor in his place,
and it is probable that his power has now been broken. Next cold weather
should see the complete restoration of order in Persian Baluchistan. The
operations against the Kirwanis were somewhat slow and protracted, and the
tribe might perhaps have been punished more speedily if the British parties on
shore had been allowed to undertake offensive operations. This would, how
ever, have relieved the Persians of the responsibility, which undoubtedly
attached to them, and would probably have led to serious complications, out of
all proportion to the advantages to be gained by a speedy punishment of the
Kirwanis. I am of opinion, too, that the display of force which we made,
and the long retention of our troops on the Makran Coast will have a much
more lasting effect than any hasty expedition into the interior would have had.
As it is, the hostile Baluchis have suffered far more from the prolonged resi
dence of the combined force at Rapch, than they would have done had an at
tempt been made to follow the murderers into the hills ; and they are now aware
we can easily land troops whenever we wish to punish them, should they dare
again to interfere with our people. I do not anticipate any further serious
troubles on the Makran Coast; but it is desirable to maintain for the present
a small force at Jask and Charbar for the protection of British subjects. It is
worthy of notice that the Telegraph line between Jask and Charbar was never
touched, though in British Baluchistan several miles were wrecked when the
rioting occurred there.
In February, Captain Sykes, Consul for Kerman, was sent to meet the
Asaf-ud-Dowleh, with the object of urging him to expedite his movements.
Captain Sykes went from Bunder Abbas, but failed to join the Asaf-ud-Dowleh,
as his health gave way, and he decided therefore to return to the^ sea without
completing his mission. He eventually arrived at Charbar eaily m April.
10.—SLAVE TRADE.
There have been no important captures of slave-carrymg vessels during
the past year ; but some minor transactions have been br ^ u |^ ^
dealt with. The question of the employment of Prench fla 0 s by
B Z