Publications, Newspaper Cuttings, Photographs and Correspondence about Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎308r] (618/879)

FEBRUARY 26, 1910.]
THE TIMES OF INDIA MAIL EDITION.
13
DIARY OF A TRAVELLER.
Persian Politics.
TEHERAN, December 1909.
Mr. David Fraser’s contributions to our columns are
well known to our readers : they need no introduc
tion. The following is the first of a new series in
which the present situation in Persia is depicted, and
the series will be found to be written with the skill,
knowledge and'gracefulness which have characterized
Mr. David Fraser’s previous articles on travel in the
Fast.
There are more politics to the square yard in
Teheran than anywhere else in the whole world.
It is a new fashion with the Persian and he
takes to it like a duck to water. It is no in
considerable fraction of the battle that so goodly
a proportion of the inhabitants are capable of
entertaining an interest in things that do not
primarily concern them. It seems proof that
patriotism of a kind, at least, is implanted in
the Persian breast. If representative govern
ment were all the ignorant Oriental paints it,
one might believe there was hope that in the
comparatively near future the political retro
gression from which this country has been
suffering for many long years would cease, and
give place to the promise of better things for
the future. Unfortunately for Persia the Per
sians do not grasp the fact that it is the char
acter of European peoples, and not their insti
tutions, which has saved them from deteriora-
tion. Out of the character of our people has
grown the British constitution that we know,
and other foreign nations in varying degrees
have adopted our system of government, not
because they have realized its superiority and
copied it, but because the development of their
national characteristic has followed the same
lines as our own and forced upon them what
has been forced upon us. Environment in the
west has developed individualism, which in its
turn has demanded political recognition.
Importance of Character.
The consequence has been the gradual impor
tation into our system of government of repre
sentative institutions which give scope to the
mental activity of the individual. In Persia,
however, environment has been, and remains for
the present, inimical to the growth of indivi-
sense, particularly when one reflects that a good
deal of our own comparative immunity from
public dishonesty is due to the certainty of de
tection, and the total loss of worldly position in
case of deviation from the paths of righteous
ness. Hitherto public office in Persia has
merely been a mine of wealth to the unscru
pulous, who incurred no public odium by
acquiring riches at the expense of the com
munity. It will be hard for the Persian to rid
himself of the instinct that place and power are
merely divine opportunities for the acquisition
of plunder. Banded together, those in power
will be hard to defeat by those out of power,
thirsting, themselves, for the loaves and fishes
of office. But the European parliamentary
system seems to the Persian the very remedy
against the danger of individuals acquiring the
upper hand, to the exclusion of other indivi
duals. There will be opportunity of attack, of
defeat, of readjustment of the administrative
machine, a chance in fact for all, where hitherto
the opportunity has belonged to the favoured
few. Whether Persia will fare better in the
hands of the many, than in those of a single
sensible ruffian who from self-interest keeps a
sharp look-out upon the condition of his pro-
perty, remains to be seen.
Persian Patriots and their Aim.
The spirit of altruism and self-sacrifice that
is to bound up with the progress of a western
state seems lacking as yet in Persia. Until
the Persian loves his neighbour as himself his
profit in democratic institutions must be small.
A decent system of Government will undeniably
do something towards saving the
country from the engulfment which has
long threatened her from north and south,
but one finds but few indications of the contrite
hearts and humble spirits that must precede
national regeneration. That, however, is a big
word to connect with the present state of transi
tion in which Persia finds herself. The aim of
her patriots is, for the moment, no more than
to evolve order out of chaos, to avoid such a
situation as will entail upon England and
Russia the necessity of assuming jointly, or
separately in their respective spheres, the ad-
ministration of the country. This condition of
affairs, however, is highly imminent as the fol
lowing sketch of the state of the provinces amply
suggests.
Russian Occupation.
In the north Azerbaijan is occupied at two
points by Russian troops. The circumstances
in which a Russian expedition entered Tabriz
will be well within the recollection of the reader.
That expedition saved Tabriz from pillage and
massacre, for it is admitted by the defenders
that the Shah’s troops were on the point of
taking the town. Had they succeeded the con-
acted like oil on a troubled sea, and the Shah-
sevans were transformed into lambs. Unfor-
tunaely the Russian Government had decided
not to take active measures against the Shah-
sevans, partly because in the meantime the
Persian Government had organized a consider
able expedition to deal with the situation. Only
an insignificant portion of this force, however,
ever reached the neighbourhood of Ardebil, a
variety of causes, of which lack of money was
the principal, contributing to cause its disap
pearance into thin air. In reality, therefore, it
was the Russian force which settled the Ardebil
business, and it is the presence of the Russians
alone to-day that prevents a recrudescence of
the Shahsevan trouble. I have not mentioned
the force at Kazvin, as orders are understood
to have been given for its withdrawal. But
at Astrabad a small body of Russian troops are
all that prevent the Turcomans entering the
town. Strong consular guards at Urumiah and
Meshed complete the tale of Russian military
force in the north of Persia, throughout which
reigns almost absolute quiet.
Brigandage in the South.
A very different story has to be told in regard
to southern Persia. Tribesmen have been raid
ing up to within ten miles of the city of Isfahan,
and go unpunished by the Governor, who is no
less than the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Bakhtiari. Fur
ther south at two points the main trade route
to Shiraz is occupied by bands of brigands
whom the Government is powerless to displace.
South of Shiraz the whole of the road to Bushire
is impassible for the same reason. Yezd is
quiet for the moment though the Arab tribes
of the neighbourhood are liable at any moment
to take to the road. Baluchistan boasts a
brigand chief who completely disregards the
Government and does what he will in the south-
east, and even threatens the town of Kerman.
The Governors of Kerman, Yezd, Shiraz and
Isfahan are all dissatisfied with their position,
for they are expected to keep order in their pro
vinces without men or money, and of course
find the task impossible. Inland trade in the
south is at a standstill in consequence and seems
likely to remain in that condition for a consi
derable time, whatever measures may be taken.
The principal sufferer, excepting Persia itself,
from this state of anarchy, needless to say is
Great Britain, whose commerce cannot move out
of or into the Gulf ports. We put up with it;
but for how long? The tranquillity in the
north is due to the presence of Russian troops,
the anarchy in the south might be said to be
due to the absence of Indian troops. Long-
suffering we have been, and continue to be, but
one thing seems quite clear, that if the Persian
Government does not very soon take steps to
restore order, we shall have to follow the ex
ample of the Russians in the north, and take our
own measures for the protection of our interests
in the south. Before this contingency arises,
HAwatyDarciais to ho aivenlsst ch neo bu
THE BALAJI TEMPLE SUIT.
At the Bombay High Court, on Thursday,
the Hon. Mr. Justice Macleod delivered judg
ment in the suit of the Acharias or head-
priests of the Shri Balaji Temple at Kandawadi,
Bombay—Gopal Sudarshan vs. Ramanuja
Nathmuni,—each of whom laid claim to the
office of head-priest, as well as to the temple-
property. The plaintiff based his claim as
the son of the late Mahant Sudarshan, whose
wife Laxamma had adopted him, when he was
a minor of ten years, under the directions of
her husband, on 15th November 1897. In
March 1905 he attained majority, and asked for
accounts from the defendant, who had been put
in charge by Laxamma as her near relative
prior to her departure to her native place,
Chikabalapura in Mysore. The defend
ant refused to render accounts, on
the ground that on 19th November 1897 the
Lchana community of Bombay had elected him
to the office. ine suit, he added was barred
by limitation.
Mr. Jehangir D. Davar with Mr. Bhulabhai
J. Desai instructed by Messrs. Ardeshir
Hormasri Dinshah and Company appeared for
the plaintiff. Mr. E. B. Raikes with Mr.
Dhurandhar instructed by Messrs. Nanu
Hormasji and Company appeared for the
defendant. '
His Lordship held that the suit was barred
by limitation. The burden lay on the plaintiff
to prove that his disability on account of his
minority continued up to within three years of
the date of the suit being filed. He did not
elect to give evidence on his own behalf.One of
his witnesses Bhaskaracharia, who was examined
on commission, gave evidence to satisfy the
onus. There was no reason why that witness
could not have come down to Bombay.
The suit was dismissed with costs throughout.
THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.
An interesting ceremony was performed on
Sunday morning, at the Seamen’s Institute,
attached to St. Nicholas’s Church, Prince’s
Dock, by the Bishop of Bombay, the affiliation of
the local branch with the Missions to Seamen
being marked by the hoisting of the Society’s
flag for the first time in this port. His Lord
ship, who was attended by Rev. A. S. Sawtell,
as Chaplain, was received in the Institute by the
Harbour Chaplain, Rev. A. E. Bernays, B.A.,
who opened the proceedings by offering prayer.
The procession of Bishop and Clergy, with the
members of the committee and sailors present,
then proceeded to the base of the flagstaff,
whereon his Lordship hoisted the flag. This is
well known throughout the world, for the familiar
blue square, bearing a flying angel with the
gospel, now flies in ninety-five of the principal
ports of the world. The party stood round the
a —-—+L-—Holdtho Fort”was
14
THE TIMES OF INDIA MAIL EDITION.
[FEBRUARY 19, 1910.
CHAUPATI RECLAMATION.
A Scheme Hung Up.
When the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. have
brought their plans for enlarging the financial
resources of the Bombay Improvement Trust to
fruition, perhaps we shall see some headway
made with the important reclamation and
building scheme which has been proposed for
the sea face at Chaupati. Rumours about this
undertaking have often been heard, and it has
long been under discussion by the Trust. The
plans and estimates have reached a stage ap
proaching completion. But the public have
only been able to obtain a hazy notion of the
proposals from the few details which have been
published. Now, when the scheme seems
almost ready for launching, it is, for the time
being at any rate, shelved altogether. This
is the meaning of the statement which
appeared in our paper, in a report of
a recent meeting of the Improvement Trust,
that the Board had merely ordered “to be re-
corded” a report from their engineer upon de
signs for a sea-wall at Chaupati costing over 3(
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees .
The Chaupati Foreshore
Days were when Back Bay narrowed into a
muddy little creek running inland at Chaupati,
and before the modern development of the east
ern side of the island began there was a big
project for building docks in the vicinity. It
is fortunate for modern Bombay that wiser
counsels prevailed. But the creek was re
claimed, and the land where the new Orient
Club and the Wilson College now stand is all
artificially made. The new idea is to create
another miniature suburb on the foreshore on
the spot, where of a morning we now see the
syces giving their horses sunbaths and the fish
wives bring their smelly wares ashore. A
glance at the map of the island shows that
Back Bay still makes a bulge inland at this
point. What is proposed is to fill up this
indentation, so that a new shore line will be
formed continuing the regular curve of the Bay
from the Kennedy Sea Face to
Malabar Hill Road. By the kind
ness of Mr. J. P. Orr, Chairman of
the Improvement Trust, and Mr. R. J. Kent,
the Board’s Engineer, we have been able to see
the tentative plans of the suggested develop
ments and a sketch map of them accompanies
this article.
An Attractive Building Scheme.
The new shore line would run from the foot
of Malabar Hill to a point a little to the south
of the old Chaupati level crossing. It is sur
prising how much land this would add. The
widest part of the reclamation would be opposite
the Orient Club and the sea would there be
thrust back for a little over 500 feet. This
carries us to what is practically the edge of the
waves at the present time, and it would result
in an area considerably bigger than the Colaba
reclamation being made available for roads and
buildings. Sandhurst road, coming over the
new railway bridge, would be continued in a
straight line across the reclamation, to the
bottom of Malabar Hill. A new 40 ft. road
would run along the new sea face and another
road pass directly through to the sea front from
the point where Sandhurst Road now ends.
This would cut up the Reclamation into three
triangular plots, one opposite the Orient Club,
the second on the left of the Sandhurst Road
extension, and the third near the Chaupati level
crossing. There would be room for fifty-two
houses, or about a third as many again as the
Colaba Reclamation contains. One row would
run along the front sea road, another follow the
curve of the present road, and the others face
the two roads cutting through the Reclamation.
The present suggestion is to lay out the three
plots of land with enclosed gardens, in the
manner which has made the Wellington Lines
Estate so extremely popular. The reproach of
overcrowded buildings which is sometimes
brought against the Colaba Reclamation would
not be repeated, for the proposed new land is
divided on the plans into plots of 80 feet by 100
feet, which suggests that the houses built there
would be similar to those in Marine Lines.
Points for Consideration.
A question which will certainly be raised is
whether anv scheme, however good, for placing
houses along the border of the Bay at this point
ought to be undertaken. It would certainly be
wrong to destroy the natural beauty of the Bay.
But it seems clear that a scheme could be car
ried out which would not only avoid spoiling the
view, but very greatly improve the neighbour
hood. Judging bv the numbers who promenade
there in the evening, this is one of the most
popular snots along Back Bay for taking the
air, but there is not much beauty in scenery
composed of the odoriferous fishing-boats and
tackle which now strew the beach. The new
plans provide for a road of the same width as
Queen's Road along the sea front, with foot-
paths on both sides, and an avenue of trees.
What is really wanted is something much more
spacious. One can picture a broad, dust
less carriage road and asphalted promenade, a
riding track and wall kept recreation lawns, with
a broidery of ornamental shyn berries and trees,
backed by bungalows hnilt with some consideral
tion for astheties. These are questions which
will call for consideration when the scheme is
resurrected from its present retirement in the
pigeon hole.
The Financial Problem.
There can be no doubt that the reclamation
would create what the auctioneer’s advertise
ments describe as a “highly desirable residen
tial neighbourhood.” Advance is blocked by
financial considerations. Any one driving
MAP ILLUSTRATING THE PROVISIONAL RECLAMATION SCHEME FOR THE CHAUPATI SEA FACE, BOMBAY.
SdbycuAHd ,
Stables .3
"al
re
down the Improvement Trust’s new Sandhurst
Road, or round the Chaupati Estate, must at once
be struck by the apparent reluctance of people
with capital to take up the land for building.
This reluctance is a very solid obstacle to rea
sonably rapid development. Perhaps when the
depression in the cotton trade has passed things
may move a little more briskly, but the great
problem seems to be that building in Bombay
has ceased to be a comparatively profitable in
vestment. Heavy ground-rents, high cost ■ f
building materials, and scarcity and dear
ness of labour, combine to make the application
of capital to building operations impossible un
less extraordinarily high rents can be secured.
This, incidentally, is the trouble which lies at the
root of our big-rent problem in Bombay. It is
problematical, therefore, whether the Trust could
carry out reclamation at Chaupati without
losing money, and the present state of the
Board’s finances do not permit of risks of this
kind being run. For the Chaupati promenade
and gardens, therefore, we shall have to wait
until Government provide the Trust with a
sound financial backing which will enable them
to carry through the work they have already
commenced and to undertake new projects which
press upon them.
BOMBAY SEAMEN S REST.
On Monday was held in the Young Men’s Chris
tian Association Hall, Wodehouse Road, Bombay,
the annual meeting of the Seamen’s Rest, Mr. J.
A. D. McBain, presiding. The meeting was
opened by prayer and the reading of the Scrip
tures.
The Secretary then read his report which con
tained the following facts:—
The work of the Seamen’s Rest is such that it
does not admit of much variety in the matter of
the annual report. The ships are visited regu
larly by the Superintendent and the seamen in
vited to the reading and recreation room, which
is kept well stocked with periodicals and maga
zines, table games, etc. From the figures in the
Superintendent’s report for the year under re
view, the number in attendance at the reading
room has been 3,296 in excess of what was re
ported in 1908. The Superintendent reports that
the launch has been in operation and justified its
existence. The financial statement of the Trea
surer shows that the Rest continues in a solvent
condition. The management has ever set itself
not to allow the expenditure to exceed the in
come. During the year a grant of Rs. 1,200 was
received from the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. through
the Customs Department towards the cost of the
launch. It has also continued the annual grant
of Rs. 2,400. The Port Trust has again given
its annual contribution of Rs. 1,200. To all our
local subscribers and donors we herewith convey
our hearty thanks.
The Revd. A. S. Crichton, M.A., said that the
point which struck one most in the report was
the note of appreciation, by those who drafted
it, towards the various bodies who had aided the
work by grants. The need of the institute was
very necessary. The sailor was almost an un
known quantity to the average landsman. Sailors
had a feeling in an unknown port that nobody
wanted them. It was to meet the need of these
men that the Institution was founded and kept
up and it deserved hearty support. Mr. Crichton
also touched on the problem of stranded seamen
and went on to deal with the religious and chief
aspect of the work of the Rest. The Revd. W. H.
Stephens also spoke on the beginning of a
Sailor’s Rest in Bombay.
Mr. McBain eulogised Mr. McGregor’s kindness
in looking after the men. He realised the sailor’s
yearning for the shore and this made the Rest
more necessary. The speaker regretted a falling
off. of Rs. 1,134 during the past year, but this
had been cleared off and he hoped that there
would be no need for this in future years. He
believed that Mr. Hudson would carry on Mr.
McGregor’s work with great zeal.
'After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the
proceedings terminated.
MR. N. U. K. LESLIE ENTERTAINED.
On Tuesday night, the members of
the Central Telegraph Office, Bombay,
entertained Mr. N. U. K. Leslie, at
the Town Hall, Bombay, which was
very tastefully decorated. The trophies of tie
Recreation Club were grouped in an artistic
manner and made a very attractive display.
There was a large number of ladies and gentle
men present.
The presentation of the address was the most
interesting item of the programme. The
address was a candid avowal of the various
benefits the operators had derived from Mr.
Leslie’s influence and authority during the five
years of his tenure of office. His benevolence
and good nature had always endeared him to his
subordinates, and his appointment to the post
of Superintendent of the Central Office, Bombay,
marked an important era for it. He assumed
charge at a time when the office required im
provements in every direction. He had moved much
among the men in office, and on the field in their
amusements. At his expense he organised
cricket tours to Madras, Jubbulpore, Poona,
Agra, etc., thereby knitting closer the cordial
relations between the Bombay men and their
brethren, at these centres. His interest in
volunteering and ambulance was dwelt upon and
a grateful staff thanked him for the many
picnics and for the periodical entertainments he
arranged for their benefit.
At the conclusion of the address, Mr. Leslie
made a lengthy speech dwelling fully on various
matters concerning- the men and the Telegraph
service. He was quite moved by this demonstra
tion, and did not know how to thank the men
for their devotion to him. He was glad that he
was retiring with the full assurance that the
operators liked the department as well as their
officers. He had done what was in his power
for their amelioration. He desired the men to
remember always that Bombay was one of the
largest telegraph centres in India, and that its
staff must ever strive to maintain the highest
standard of efficiency.
JURYS VERDICT ANNULLED.
At the Bombay High Court, the Hon. Sir
Narayenrao G. Chandavarkar and the Hon. Mr.
Justice Knight have disposed of a reference
made to them by Mr. R. E. A. Elliott, Addi
tional Sessions Judge of Ahmedabad, who had
in the trial of Hira Kala (21), a Dharala for
murder disagreed with the jury’s verdict of
“not guilty” and made the reference. Mr.
M. B. Chaubal, Government Pleader, appeared
for the Crown. Mr. G. N. Thakore appeared
'lor the accused. On 7th October the accused
killed with a heavy sickle or “dharia” Mathur
Hira (20), at Hiranj in taluka Matar, by caus
ing a mortal wound on the neck two and a half
.inches deep. He buried the body in a pit near
’the river Vatrak. The quarrel arose through
the accused ordering off the cattle in the charge
of the deceased from the grazing-ground of his
employer, and the deceased not only challenging
the order, but foully abusing him, and beating
him. There was a confession made by the
accused and evidence. In the face of all these,
and of Mr. Elliott’s summing-up, the jury
-delivered a verdict of “not guilty,” which Mr.
Elliott declined to accept, and reported the
matter to the High Court.
Their Lordships held that the quarrel was
sudden and the blow aimed by the accused was
under grave and sudden provocation. The
evidence showed that the deceased commenced
the quarrel. The accused was convicted of the
offence of culpable homicide not amounting to
murder, under the latter part of Section 304,
of the Penal Code, and sentenced to five years’
rigorous imprisonment.
SCOTTISH MISSION SCHOOL.
The annual prize distribution in connection
with the United Free Church of Scotland Mission
Christian Girls’ Boarding School, Bombay, took
place on Tuesday evening, Lieut. Colonel W. B.
Bannerman, I.M.S., presiding. There was a
large attendance of the European and Indian
friends of the pupils. An interesting programme
of songs and recitations, was given by the girls.
A special feature was the excellent exhibition
of drill by the senior pupils, who had been
trained by Mrs. Jenkins, instructress in
physical culture. The report submitted by the
Principal, Miss Sutherland, was read by the
Rev. J. R. Cuthbert. The report showed a year
of distinct advance, both in the number of
pupils attending the school, and in the standard
of work. The numbers on the roll are: Anglo-
Vernacular Department 32, Vernacular School
92, (of these 35 are boarders). The following
extracts are made from the report of Miss
Corkery, Government Inspectress. “The Boarders
look healthy, and are neatly dressed. The
general tone of the school is very high. With
the help of Mr. Joshi, the Marathi Assistant-
Deputy Inspector, I tested the work of all the
classes, and found it satisfactory. The
English is good throughout the ‘ school,
the only weak point being grammer.’ I am
glad to note that the study of French is dis
couraged. and that Sanskrit is the classic
taught. Although the standard of English
maintained in the school is high, it has not
been attained at the sacrifice of Marathi, the
latter shows signs of careful teaching. The
report for the Vernacular Department also
records satisfactory results. Five girls passed
the School of Art drawing examination, one
in the 2nd grade, and four in the 1st grade.”
The prizes were then distributed by mrs.
Grieg. Colonel Bannerman in his address, con
gratulated the Principal and staff, on the
excellent report given by the Educational
Inspectress. He alluded, with much appreciation,
to the fact that Sanskrit not French was taken
as the second language in the school, pointing
out that as European children studied Latin,
a classic connected with their own language,
so it was most appropriate that Indian girls
should know something of Sanskrit, the language
which lies at the root of their own
vernaculars.
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