Page 169 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RESIDENCY AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1900-1001* 17

consideration by the Sultan’s Hindustani officials, but there can bo no doubt
that the Customs revenue of iho port would still rcaoh higher figures if His
ni^hness were to appoint a fully qualified official of some standing to the
charge of its administration.
13. Indemnity tax,—The balance of the indemnity duo to British subjects
for losses suffered in the rebellion of 1895 has been at length liquidated by the
Sultan, and almost all the parties concerned have appeared to claim the balances
duo to them.
l<t. Pearl dispute.—A remarkable dispute, in which the Sultan was
interested, connected with the discovery and sale of a pearl of extraordinary value,
which had been going on for more than a year and from time to time threatened to
assume very serious proportions, has at last been amicably settled by a committee
consisting of certain of the Trucial Chiefs assisted by experienced Muslims. The
case seems to have been a M test” one, and difficult questions were involved
affecting the rights of the owner of soil and the sovereign, one of whose subjects
was the fortunate finder, to a share in the profits on the sale of the gem. The
latter was a Kumzar subject of the Sultan of Maskat, and His Highness was, it
is understood, awarded a third share in the value of the pearl. It is said, how­
ever, to be still deposited with some banker in Bombay and unsold though
mortgaged, so that it is not impossible that the last has still to be heard of it.
15. Arms traffic,—As the trade returns demonstrate, not only does the traffic
in arms show" no signs of abatement, but the valuo of it has more than doubled
itself during the past year (the direct London-Maskat steamers calling much
more frequently than heretofore) and has returned practically to the same
figure at which it stood in 1897-98, previous to the Baluchistan seizure.
This year’s figures received from the Sultan may be considered reliable,
as the Customs collection having been in His Highness’s own hands his official
has taken pains to make sure of the exact contents of each case with a view
to the correct levy of duty.
It is doubtful if the traffic has even yet reached its culminating point, for
the demand seems to grow with the supply. The import is still mostly in the
hands of British traders, but foreign subjects have embarked in it during the
year and others are expected to follow.
The following details in round figures give some idea of the destination of
the weapons
Arms. Ammunition.
Total imported from Europe during the year , £5,000 3.225,000
(e) Numbers for which the Sultau has been asked to issue
pusses for re-export by s^a to the ports of Batineh
Coast up to Ras Museendira . • 13,000 1,059,000
(4) Proportion which has left Ma*-kat by sea without
passes or gone into the interior by land from
Aiaskat ...... 4 12,000 2,166,000
25,000 3,225,000

With regard to (a), it is known that the demand for arms at the Batineh
Coast and Northern Oman Ports is very 6mall indeed, and it follows from this
that the greater part of these quantities have been deflected to other markets
in the Gulf.
16. Visit of the Bishop of Lahore,—On the 1st of December the Right
heverend G. A. Lefrov, Bishop of Lahore, paid Maskat a short visit, bis primary
object being to visit the grave of the late Bishop French who died here in 1891
while labouring as a missionary. His Lordship read the Consecration Service at
the European cemetery in Shaikh Jabar Cove and also at a new burial ground
recently granted by His Highness the Sultan near the American Mission bouse
1 r.marily for the burial of members of the Native Christian community,
# -Plague.—Though the epidemic dealt with in last year’s report just ex- .. ,
tended into the current year, Maskat was declared free in May, and has happily EPldora,fl#*
mained so up to the end of the year. Maskat may still be considered very
ortunatc, however, if an outbreak does not occur before tho great heat of May
ng8 comparative safety, for one or two ea8e8 have already occurred on the
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