'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎70v] (145/982)

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BAN-BAN
town is adjoined by cultivated lands belonging to adjacent villages, and
on the east at about 2 miles distance is a chain of low sand-hills, which
screen it from the view of the traveller as he approaches on that side.
The only defensive work is the loopholed, semi-fortified residence of the
Khan built of stones and mud. Bandar Rig possesses a few date trees,
and there are two unimportant shrines.
The general history of Bandar Rig is included in that of the Haiat Daud
district. Here in 1754 the English East Company, whose trade in the Gulf
had been seriously crippled by the troubles arising out of the Afghan in
vasions, endeavoured to found a factory An East India Company trading post. and sent out an agent. Owing to
Dutch opposition and intrigues, the attempt was a failure, and a few years
later Bushire was selected as a substitute. A little later in the same cen
tury a famous Gulf pirate, an exceptional ruffian, of the name of Mir
Mahanna, had his strong hold here. His fort was taken and razed to the
ground by British troops.
Bandar Rig is said to be very ancient.
Population. —The inhabitants number about 2,500 souls ; they are a
mongrel breed in whom Arab and Lur blood predominate. Persian, modi
fied by the Lur dialect, is the language spoken. The people are cultivators,
boatmen, sailors and traders ; they are reputed peaceable and not fana
tical, but they are fairly well armed with Martini rifles, about 3 to every
house. They are Shi’ah Muhammadans, but traditions survive of a time
when some of them were Gabrs.
Trade and Supples.—Bandar Rig is a fairly prosperous port, dealing
principally with Bushire and Kuwait, and serving the considerable district
of Haiat Daud, and a part of the district of Shabankareh. The bazar
contains about 50 shops and trade has increased during the last few years ;
the monthly imports are said now to average 100 packages or bags of sugar,
5 cases of tea, 50 bags of Indian rice, 100 cases of kerosine oil, and 50 bales
of Manchester prints, all from Bushire. There is also a considerable im
portation of camels from Kuwait. Exports are wheat, barley, gum, wool
and cattle, all to Bushire except the wheat, of which the bulk is sent to
Kuwait, Bahrain and Masqat. The Persian krdn is the basis of the currency,
but rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and dollars also circulate. The unit of weight is a Hashim
man equal to 20 Tabriz man of Bushire, and consequently different to the
Hashim man of that place, which is equivalent to 16 Tabriz man of the
same town. The standard of length is a gaz of 8| inches.
Resources and Communications. —Water is obtained from wells, and
som3 wheat, barley and straw are locally procurable. About 50 horses,
100 camels and 150 donkeys, also 100 cattle and 600 sheep and goats are
owned in the town, and there are 8 bums besides 10 mdshuvehs and 15
fishing boats. A Persian post office was opened here about 1901, and a
telegraph office about 1904 ; but very little use is made of the latter, which
is intermediate between Borazjun and Bandar Dilam on the Borazjun
Ahwaz branch line. There is frequent communication with Bushire by
sailing boat. There is a .route to Borazjun of 2 stages, 56 miles. The
main route from Bushire to Muhammareh via Bandar Dilam passes Bandar
Rig, Bushire being 3 stages of 74 miles, Bandar Dilam 3 stages, 60 miles,
and Muhammareh 8 stages, 190 miles.