'Report on Fars by Captain A T Wilson, Indian Political Department' [‎62v] (129/396)

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Population .—The population is from 1,000 to 2,000 souls of the BehbehanI
tribe and is entirely Shi’ah ; all are Persian-speaking, but about one-third
of them can talk Arabic as well. Some are cultivators in the surrounding
Lirawi district, others are sailors or fishermen, and the remainder merchants
or shop-keepers.
Resources and Supplies .—The resources of the place are inconsiderable;
drinking water is scarce and indifferent; it is brought from Tunub about 1 rn.
distant. About 20 horses, 200 donkeys, and 500 sheep are owned by the
inhabitants. There are ten bums, 10 mdshuwehs and 20 small fishing boats.
Commerce .—Dilam is the port of the wheat-growing districts of Ziadan
and Behbehan, and to this circumstance owes such trade as it enjoys. The
oversea trade is principally with Bushire, but also (for wheat) with Muham-
merah, andtoa limited extent with Kuwait, Bahrain and Masqat. Wheat,
barley, straw, gum, linseed, ghi and dried figs are the principal exports, rice,
coffee, sugar, tea, pepper, turmeric, dried limes (Masqat) and kerosine its prin
cipal imports. In 1911 3,464 tons of wheat were imported chiefly to Muham-
merah. The fishermen here, using the drag-net, catch large quantities of sir
fish. They are split and dried and sent to Basrah by sea and to the surrounding
villages on donkeys. The baz .ar contains 90 shops. Ordinary Persian •
currency is in use ; the weights used are a local man of 14 lbs. 8| oz., and the
Hdshim man, equivalent to 10 local man*. The unit of length is the gaz
of 40" or 41."
Climate and Sanitation .—Ophthalmia is the prevailing disease here ; there
is little fever and no small-pox.
Administration .—Bandar Dilam is ruled by two local Khans, brothers,
who are under the authority of the Governor of the Gulf Ports, to whose
charge it was relegated during the political re-arrangement of the Persian
Gulf littoral, which followed the fall of the Zill-us-Sultan in 1888. The
Khans, who defer considerably to Saiyids and Mullas, dispose of criminal
matters, and civil causes are settled by Kazls and Mullas. The original
rulers are said to have been Bani Tamim ’Arabs, and after them Ban! Khali-
* feh. The latter were displaced 70 or 80 years ago by the father of the pre
sent Khans. Haji Tahir, who profited by the absence of the ruling family
during an epidemic of plague to make an arrangement with the Governor
of Behbehan and take possession of the place.
Revenue .—land revenue of Dilam is trifling, but the receipts from
sea-customs are considerable ; they were formerly farmed by the Khans for
12,000 krans per annum, but since the initiation of direct management he
has received compensation at the rate of 5,000 krdns per annum. The
inhabitants are fairly well armed.
152. BANDAR RIGL— at. 29° 24', Long. 50° 41'.
The port and chief town of the Haiat Daud District, 30 m. N.-N.-W.
of Bushire. It stands upon a low sandy coast, which runs N. and S.
There is a creek at the town, fronted by two sandbanks, inside which
native craft lie aground at low water. On the N. and S. the town is
adjoined by cultivated lands belonging to adjacent villages, and on
the E., at about 2 m. distance, is a chain of low sandhills, which