Page 420 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

I* ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
as mentioned earlier in tins report, has boon acquired by him primarily for use
in facilitating tho Customs Administration of his smaller Oman ports and will,
it is hoped, servo its purpose and indirectly recoup its owner for its cost and
upkeep. It is at present undergoing alterations in the Government Dockyard
at Bombay, but is shortly expected at Maskat. Apart, however, from questions
of revenue, the powor which tho possession of tho vessel will put in the Sultan’s
hands, and which ho docs not now possess, of appearing at short notice, and
with force at his back, at any given point on tho coast line and consequently in
the hinterland of his territory,'should provo of very material assistaneo to him
in keeping a tight hand upon his more distant possessions.
Arm* Trade. 12. There has been a further decline in this trade, the value of which is
about 1,70,000 dollars less than that of last year and 50 per cent, less than it
was in 1897-1S98.
The foundering of Messrs. Buck nail’s “ Cam ” en route to Maskat contri­
buted to some extent to this result but a similar catastrophe occurred last year
in the case of tho 44Da^uto*1 so it must bo presumed that tho decline in the
imports represents a falling ofE in tho demand. It may also be in a measure
due to tho fact that British merchants liave for ono reason or another been less
energetic in this branch of trade; and it was noticed too that probably by
reason of the scarcity of money in Persia owing to drought, fewer persons than
usual hailing from Persian territory appeared at Maskat.
In tliis connection it is to be noted that while tho value of arms imported
from the United Kingdom has decreased 10 per cent., that from Marseilles or
other foreign ports has increased 30 per cent., which means that the trade is
quickly passing into the hands of persons over whose operations we can exercise
no chock or supervision. The reception of the arms on arrival accentuates this
aspect of the question, as the following figures will show. Of the total number
of cases of arms and ammunition landed at Maskat during the course of the
year 22 per cent, were taken delivery of by British subjects, 10J per cent, by
Arab subjects and 07.} per cent, by foreign subjects.
Ctltcr details of the trade arc furnished in tho separate Trade Deport.
Health. 13. Maskat lias been quite free from epidemic disease of any sort and this
must be regarded as a matter for much congratulation, considering its proximity
to Karachi and Bombay by sea. The duties of Health Officer continue to be per­
formed for the Sultan by the Agency Surgeon, and without the slightest friction.
Slave Trade. 11. Owing to His Majesty’s Ships being employed elsewhere there was no
slave cruising during the recognised slave running seasons, and no dhows were
captured in these waters, hut if any confirmation were wanted to the reports of
this Agency as to the lively survival of the traffic it is furnished by the
following items of information which came to hand during tho current year.
(a) In January 1902 the Portuguese authorities at Mozambique having
been informed that several Arab dhows had entered the small
rivers in the Angochc district for the purpose of capturing slaves,
tho Governor-General of* Mozambique organised an expedition
composed of ISO men, detachod from Portuguese men-of-war in
those seas and proceeded to a spot where the slave dealers were
reported to have constructed a forfcifiod position for thcmsolves.
After a severe conflict two dhows were captured' and two burnt
and'a number of the Arabs are believed to have been killed. It
is not at present known how many slaves were released.
(£») Again in starch 1902 further information of a similar nature having
reached tho local authorities the Portuguese cruiser San • JRqfael
entered the Port of Simoco in the same neighbourhood and
thcro, after a sharp fight, captured a slaving fleet of 12 Arab
dhows, liberating 725 slaves and making prisoners of about 150 of
tho Arab slave runners. The Arabs are still in confinement
awaiting trial; but meanwhile it is known from tho statements of
individuals who were present and escaped capture and have
since returned to 8ur that most if not all the Arabs were Oman
subjects and hailed from Bur and tho vicinity.
Tho foregoing iheidonts scorn to constitute sufficiently incontrovertible
proof that slave running flourishes in an organised' form and on* largo seal®