File 1110/1916 Pt 2 'Persia: SITUATION Miscellaneous' [‎59r] (122/276)

write letters in the same strain and despatched those addressed to the Shaikhs
of Chiru, Gaobandi, Surubash, Giladar, Kalat and Mogam with a special
messenger named Khalu Bakir by H.M.S. “ Hardinge ” at midnight on the
8th. The same night I despatched the remainder of the letters by special
Kasids to Yiravi, Ishkanan, Bastak, Tahuna, MoghUj Charak, Gafar Khan,
Akhand, Chah Mubarak, Marbakh and His Excellency the Kawam-ul-Mulk.
On the 9th I received information that a party of six mutineers were seen
near Kuh Bostaneh and I immediately insisted on the Deputy Governor
lending out a party of 15 armed men with a few trackers to search the hills.
They found no traces of the mutineers and returned on the 15th having gone
no further than Bostaneh. On the 9th, I also asked the Deputy Governor to
institute a house to house search of the town, as I had heard that some of the
rebels had re-entered the town. The search was only carried out on the 15th
after I had sent several messages to the Deputy Governor and written him
two official letters on the subject.
On the 10th I despatched duplicates of all my letters to the Shaikhs and
Chiefs and on the 13th I despatched two spies by the coast road and two by
the Gulsham-Murbakh-Gaobandi road to make enquiries. I also despatched
the Agent of Bakir Khan of Ashkanan on a similar errand.
Before leaving Lingah I received replies from some of the Shaikhs and
chiefs to the effect that they had not received any information of the where
abouts of the mutineers and that they would do their best to arrest them.
His Excellency the Darya Begi arrived on the 16th having visited many
of the small ports on the way from Bushire. He failed to obtain any informa
tion about the mutineers and he was inclined at first to think that they must
have gone by sailing boat. After enquiry, however, he thought it more
likely they had gone by land.
Though the Gulsham-Murbakh-Gaobandi road would have been their
quickest land route, the fact of their not having been heard of at Charak,
Murbakh and Mogam near which places the road runs, I am inclined to think
the mutineers made their way cross country till they got on to the road to
Ashkanan.
From the 10th instant I was engaged in collecting evidence and recording
statements. In this work I received much assistance from Captain Durham
and Mr. Johnstone.
The Deputy Governor has proved himself a most incompetent person. He
gave me practically no assistance in collecting evidence and I have already
shown that he failed in his duty to follow up the mutineers.
I have been unable to find any evidence incriminating any of the local
people of participation in the crime.
I am not yet in a position to assign with any certainty a motive for the
attack on our representative and our 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. and can only assume that it was
due to German intrigue or to a desire for revenge on the part of the ringleader
Rais Hussain, a man greatly feared by his compatriots, even by the Chief Haji-
Khan. A third theory is that one or more of the debtors of the Khan Bahadur
may have entered into collusion with the murderers to first kill the Khan
Bahadur and afterwards raid bis house. I am inclined to favour the first
theory, namely, a German plot.
I regret that owing to lack of time I am unable to submit a more detailed
report, but I hope to be in a position to furnish one at an early date.
Enclosure No. 5.
Dated the 16th April 1916.
From—M b. J. Johnstone, Quarantine Medical Officer, Lingah,
To—His Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul and Assistant Resident, Lingah.
1 have the honour to record herewith, for your information, the following
account of the mutiny of the Deputy Governor’s Tangistani Tufangchis which
occurred at Lingah on the 6th instant.