Page 186 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

18. ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP TJIB PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

On. tho 10th December, the Political Agent proceeded to Raa Fartak in Her Majesty's
ship Dragon to present rewards to the Sultan of Kichccn and the Chiefs of Nishtoon and
Tibboot for their services in succouriug the shipwrecked crew of the 8. S. Airy the previous
year.
In tho same month the new Sheikh of Raa-cl-IIad was murdered at tho instigation of
the former Sheikh, and the Dar-cl-Salaam was despatched with a small forco to punish the
offenders and restore order.
In January, Seyyid Abdool Azeez wrote to the Political Agent from Semed, saying that
His Highness Seyyid Toorkec had made certain proposals to him, aud ho desired the mediation
of the Political Agent in tho matter. A correspondence accordingly ensued.
In February, His Highness Scyyid Toorkeo was laid up with an attack of fever and was
attended by Surgeon-Major Jayakar.
Some disturbances occurred at this ti.no in the vicinity of Sohar between the Beni Ali
and Mokabil tribes, and the mediation of the new Wali of Sohar, Seyyid Hamad, was sought
by both parties.
On the 3rd March, the Political Agent and the Wazir Scyyid Saced proceeded to Gwadur
in Her Majesty'6 ship Ranger to join a Court of Enquiry assembled there to investigate claims
existing between Arab subjects and the Rinds, subjects of His Highness the Khan of Kalat.
The inquiry occupied about three w^ks, and the Political Agent returned to Muscat on the
25th Much in Her Majesty's ship Ranger.
On the 30th March a hurricane struck the Batineh coast between Seeb and Mesnaab and
extended inland as far as Rostak, destroying many thousands of date trees and causing a loss of
several lives. Heavy rain fell simultaneously all over Oman, causing immense damage to
houses, crops, and trees.
Slave Trade.—During the year. 1884, owing probably to the removal of Her Majesty's
ship London at Zanzibar, there was a general revival of the East African slave trade, and a
large number of slaves were imported into the Gulf. On the 14th October, Her Majesty's ship
Philomel brought into the Vice-Ad mi rally Court for adjudication a slave dow and 154 slaves
she bad captured near Ras-cl-Had, and on her way to Aden shortly after she seized another
dow with 51 slaves near Maseera island. Her Majesty’s ship Dragon also brought into tho
Muscat Court 22 slaves she had recovered on the pirate coast. All these slaves were con-
demned to Her Majesty.
S. B. MILES, Lieut.-Colonel,
Q. B. M.’s Political Agent and Consul, Muscat.