Page 170 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

18 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL.

Gulf steamers, and with the disease so had in Karachi aud Bombay it is not to
be wondered at that mail steamers aro arriving in a suspicious condition.
Preventive measures.—Our immunity so far must bo in no small measuro
duo to the careful and painstaking execution of the preventive measures in
force by Captain F. A. Smith, I.M.S., tko Agency Surgeon, to whom His
¥ Highness has wisely entrusted his arrangements.
Donth of nor 18. News of the grievous calamity which fell upon the Empire in the death
Majesty tho of Her late Gracious Majesty the Queen Empress Victoria reached Maskat
Victoria.mprCB8 ^vitli practically no previous warning on the 25th January and caused the most
universal consternation among all classes.
His Highness the Sultan, who evinced every possible mark of respect for
Her Majesty’s memory aud sympathy with Her subjects, caused 1C1 minute
guns to be bred from his saluting battery on receipt of the nows and caused
the shops in the bazar to be closed and tlio Maliomedan Id festivities, which
were then in progress, to bo suspended in respect to Her august memory. His
Highness, the representatives of Foreign powers and representative deputations
from the British Indian communities paid visits of condolence at the British
Consulate.
19. His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Bear-Admiral D. H.
Navy.
Bosanquet, visited Maskat in his flagship H.M.S. Highflyer on 14th March,
having previously touched at Sur en route. The usual cordial exchange of
visits between His Highness the Sultan and His Excellency took place.
Maskr.t was visited during the year by H.M.S. Pom one, Lapicing, Assays,
Sphinx, Cossack, Pedlreast, Pigeon, Racoon and the flagship Highflyer.
Foreign Navies were represented by three French men-of-war, Drome,
Catinat and Acheron.
20. No slave dhows were brought in for adjudication at Maskat by any of
Slavo Trade.
tbe cruisers of the Persian Gulf Squadron.
Fifty-three fugitive slaves applied during the year for protection and
freedom, out of whom three left the protection of the Consulate duriug tho
investigation, four were dismissed not beiug slaves, and forty-six were given
freedom under the Treaty stipulations of 1S73. Seven Africans were sent
direct to Zanzibar, in accordance with the orders of Government, for repatria­
tion of such of the liberated Africans as may bo suitably employed on planta­
tion work at Zanzibar.
' 21. Captain P. Z. Cox, I.S.C., held charge of tbe office of the Political
Official
changes. Agent and Consul throughout the year. # # t
Lieutenant-Colonel Jayakar, Agency Surgeon, on completion of six months*
extension of service granted to him, retired from the service after nearly
thiity years* work in Maskat, and was relieved on 2nd May 1900 by Captain
F. A. Smith, LM.S., who remained in charge of the duties till the end of
the year.
P. Z. COX, Captain,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul and
Political Agent, Maskat.
The 13th April 190L