File 3852/1912 Pt 1 'Persia: Trade in South. Conditions on the Bushire - Shiraz Road. Russian commercial competition in S. Persia' [‎169v] (338/368)

At the end of October and early in November there were hostilities about
20 miles from Bushire, owing to a blood-feud between two villages, one in
Tangistan, a little to the right of the caravan route.
By November 15th it was the turn of the first stage between Busbire and
Abmedi. The principal chiefs of Tangistan, who have a blood-feud with the
Khan of Abmedi and were also annoyed with the Governor of Busbire, collected
a force on the further side of the Mashileb near Busbire, while a number of
Tangistan riflemen entrenched themselves right on the caravan route about
10 miles from Bushire with orders to allow no caravans to pass. A good deal
of shooting at long range ensued between them and the partisans of Abmedi,
while valuable caravans at Abmedi, and all mules in Busbire, including a mili
tary convoy, were unable to move for 5 days.
It bad already been sanctioned by Government that His Majesty’s troops
in Busbire should escort our military convoy across the Masbileb to Abmedi,
when the Tangistanis returned to Tangistan, local influences having been
exerted on them to withdraw.
The new Governor-General of Pars has now asked the Governor of the Gulf
Ports to undertake the Government of Dashti and Dashtistan, which includes
a large part of the littoral behind Busbire : as the Governor of the Gulf Ports
has no forces to impose bis authority on these independent chiefs, wbo_ have
paid no revenue for years, the appointment is likely to remain purely nominal.
Perusal of the above account of the road during the past three months
can hardly fail to convince all that the state of security along the road is worse
than ever, and that British trade and the Pax Britannica have ceased to be
respected.
After two months’ trial of Mukhbir-us-Sultaneh it is tolerably clear that his
regime, even if he be given the large financial aid which he has asked, will be
a failure : his colleague at Bushire says as much.
The Swedish gendarmerie scheme received its quietus in Pars in the un
fortunate fight with Soulet-ud-Dowleh’s partisans sooner than might have been
expected. A force of 1,500 gendarmes was to have been in command of the
whole road from Bushire to Yezdikhast in 15 months from the start : 9 months
have already passed and there are no better prospects even a year hence.
The men whom tbe Swedish officers have engaged at Shiraz are said on all
hands to be quite incompetent for the task. The Governor of Bushire has by
request from Shiraz engaged 100 men in this district to serve in the gendar
merie : hut he himself states that in the winter season or for any length of
time these recruits will not face the cold of the road near Shiraz, nor be will
ing to leave Dashtistan during the ploughing and harvest season. The district
Khans will not of their accord allow their riflemen to leave their own districts
and so diminish their forces.
H. G. CHICK,
Commercial Adviser*
British 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. and Consulate General, Bushire ;
15th December 1912.
*