Page 475 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

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UKSIDKXCY AND MASKAT TOMTICAL AGEXCY FOR THE YEAR lfOMPOL
from landing. A deputation of the European and British Indian merchants of
Bushiro waited on His Excclloncy on hoard tho Ilardingc on the 3rd and
presented Ilia Excolloncy with an address; and on tho morning of tho 4th
December, tho Viceroy, having concluded his tour, proceeded on his return
voyage to India,
7. Visit of the British minister.—His Excellency Sir Arthur Uardinge,
K.C.M.G., C.B., Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at tho
Court of H. I. M. the Shah of Persia, arrived in Bushire by way of Ispahan
and Shiraz on the 15th November, and proceeded on board If. M. S. Sphinx
to meet Lord Curzon and accompany him during his tour in the Gulf. The
Sphinx proceeded to Maskat, where the Minister had an informal interview
with the Viceroy. Having then proceeded to Bunder Abbas, tho Minister met
tho Viceroy at this place and accompanied him on board the Uardinge
throughout tbo tour. After the Viceroy’s departure from Bushire, Sir Arthur
Hardingo remained a few days in Bushire and then proceeded to Mokaramerah,
whence after a short visit to Ahwaz, His Excellency proceeded on his return
journey to Tehran by way of Bagdad aud Kermanshah.
8. JPostal Service.—In April 1903, a re-organization of the mail service
from India to the Gulf was effected. This has greatly benefited the residents
at Bushiro and Basra, who now get their mails from India by a fast steamer
which calls only at Maskat, Bushire, Mohamraerah and Basra. The minor
ports in the Gulf are served by another and slower service. Koweit has now
been made a port of fortnightly call by steamers of the British India Steam
Navigation Company.
Major Cox was Political Agent at Maskat throughout the greater part of ii.- Oman—
tho year. He proceeded on privilege leave early in January. The Political Ma8kut*
Agent’s report of the principal events in Maskat during the year forms Part II
of this compilation.
The pearling season was a prosperous one. Although tho take of pearls Ili.-Onnn-
was not very large, prices ruled high. No cases of piracy or disturbances at PirQto Coast-
sea occurrei The dispute between the Chief of Shargah and his feudatory at
Fujeyrah has not been settled. Tho expedition led by the Chief against tho
Headman of Fujeyrah led to an arrangement being arrived at between the
Chief and his feudatory. The terms of this arrangement havo not, however,
been fulfilled and the matter is still under discussion.
Mr. J. C. Gaskin has been Assistant Political Agent at Bahrein through* iv.-Bahroin.
out the year, which has generally been a quiet and-prosperous one; though some#
anxiety was felt when the outbreak of plague occurred in May..
Although the pearl harvest was not a very prolific one, the pearls found
were of superior quality and prices were about 20 per cent, higher than last year.
Oil El Katr the pearl season is said to have*been a particularly prosperous one.
No piracies occurred in Bahrein waters, though at one time the reported* move­
ments of the notorious Ahmed bin Silman gave rise to anxiety; The two;
Frenchmen, Messrs. Dumas and Castelin, referred to in last year’s report, left
Bahrein in May, the former for Bagdad and the latter for France.
Tho roads between Katif and El Hassa and Ojair and El Hassa are report- V.—fi Rasaa
cd, as usual, to have been unsafe, and the Arab, tribos have generally; given and El Katif*
a good deal of trouble to the Turkish authorities.
. It is said that an enumeration of the date trees in Katif,. which was made
during the year, shows an increase of 100,000 palms,..which means an increases
of revonuo to the Turks of about 1,600 Liras.
The accounts which are received of the progress of affairs imNejd^&re never vi.-Koweit
very reliable, but there appears to be no doubt that Abdul Rahman bin Feyeuliand Nei<L
el 8aood has strengthened his position very considerably during the year and
that his position in Riadh and the surrounding country is now seoure. 8uch
fighting as has taken plaoo betweon him and the Amir of Nejd has been in favour
of the Wahabi Chief, who, from nows which appeare to be authentic, gained a
^ery considerable victory in February last over Ibn Rashid's men at 8irr on the
borders of the Kaseem country,.300 of the latter having been killed; Ibn
Rashid’s standard, which was taken on this occasion, was sent into Koweit.
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