Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎257v] (514/678)

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and he declared that he had not seen it, Just afterwards the Shah’s death occurred, and
a few days later I proceeded to Shuster, intending to go on to Dizful. When at Shuster
Saduk came to me and said that his brother had arrived from Ispahan and wished to
enter my service as syce. As I had just discharged my two syces I engaged him, and
sent him to Ahwaz, where my horses were. Saduk asked me for 80 krans on account of
his own and of his brother’s salary—an advance—as he said that neither of them had
any money. We (Saduk and I) left for Dizful. Saduk, who accompanied my caravan,
reported on reaching Dizful that he had been stopped on the road and had been forced to
pay 50 krans. Domio, my cook, denies the truth of this statement, but says that Saduk
told him he had 50 krans stolen from him. When at Dizful, one evening I found my only
remaining two-and-a-half bottles of whisky missing. I dined with Agha Ali the same
evening, and on my return to my house I found Saduk all of a heap on a shalif of wool.
I tried to awaken him, but was unsuccessful. I found that my bed was not ready
upstairs, and I eventually made my bed with the assistance of my clerk. The next
morning Saduk came to me and said, “ Your watch, together with 50 krans of mine,
were stolen last night.” I replied that I did not believe it, and added, “ I believe
you have either stolen them yourself, or lost them when drunk,” JS"o more was said
about it until rve arrived at Shuster, when, on the 17th, he asked me to make up his
account, and whatever he owed me for the watch lie was willing to pay me. I would
mention that previous to this, and after my return from Dizful, I had a quiet talk with
my clerk. The clerk told me that he was keeping Saduk’s accounts, and that he (the
clerk) had 600 krans belonging to Saduk, and also 300 krans in bonds. Saduk had paid
him (the clerk) 600 krans immediately after his arrival from Ahwaz. We made up his
(Saduk’s) account, and it was found that he owed me 110 krans taking his and his
brother’s salary to the end of June and charging him with 85 krans for the cost of the
watch (the 1,000 krans which he was suspected of stealing at Ahwaz were not included
in this account).
This 110 krans balance due to me he drew' from the clerk Yusuf, and paid me,
remarking to the clerk at the time that he would make Mulla Mahomed, Lynch’s agent
at Dizful, swear that he or his people knew nothing about the robbery, and if he could
not get the money out of Mulla Mahomed he knew' how to get it. When I heard this
I decided to discharge him the next day. About 9 o’clock that night, although there
were twm koojahs full of water on the roof, he came up and put another one there and
went down again, I noticed this and thought nothing of it. BeLveen me and Yusuf,
the clerk—we both were sleeping on the roof—there is an empty bed. I went to bed
about 9. About 10 I found myself out of the bed on the ground and stunned. I saw
Saduk lifting up a sword to strike me on the head, and I immediately put up my left
hand to save my head. The blow descended and severed the left hand, inflicting a
wound on my head. He then made repeated cuts elsewhere and I became unconscious.
I knew nothing more until I came to my senses in Yusufs arms. While I was being-
carried from the house to the river bank at Shuster a large crowd of people follow'ed us
rejoicing that I had been killed, stone-throwing also began, and a stone passed close to
the bed on which I was being carried. When I was put on the raft they lined the
Shuster bank of the river and continued shouting abuse and throwing stones. Four
ferrashes were sent by the Nizam to carry me to the river, but their presence did not
appear to have any effect on the crowd.
Declared before me:
(Signed) J. F. Whyte,
Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and Her Britannic
Majesty’s Consul.
Bussorah, June 24, 1896.