Page 487 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RESIDENCY AND MASK AT POLITICAL AGENCY FOE TUB YEAR 1003-1904. 15

Wo enjoy in Maskat the rights and privileges of tho most favoured nation,
our interests arc carefully guarded by our Consular authorities, and we
experience complete toleration in matters of religion. There is an absence of
unnecessary litigation amongst us, British subjects, and justice is readily and
promptly obtainable in tbo Agency Court.
In matters connected with our dealings with tbo natives of Oman, while
wo arc accustomed to receive a courteous bearing from His Highness, never­
theless wo often experience difficulty in obtaining relief, and this is partly
owing no doubt to the unsettled state of tbo interior. In this latter connec­
tion, wo make bold to explain to Your Excellency that, whereas, considering
the degreo of enlightenment among the Bedouin Arabs, inter-tribal strife and
turbulence are within the nature of things, and when they are limited to the
interior of the country do not immediately affect our welfare any more than
that of other peaceable members of the community; nevertheless, when, a8 is
somotimes the case, the scene of tbo strife is transferred to the coast ports, or
their immediate neighbourhood, our commercial interests do immediately
suffer; and we are put to anxiety for the safety of tbo lives and properties cf
our fellow-subjects. For, a3 Your Excellency is aware, at many of the coast
towns of Oman (often far removed from tho capital) small communities of
British Indian subjects reside, in whoso hands all tho local trade is centred,
and who, in however humble a capacity, aro the pioneers of British Indian
commerce in these waters.
Thanks to the vigilant activity of successive Political Agents and of
British ^len*of-war at seasons of unrest, there is little actual danger to the
lives and properties of these our fellow-subjects, but the detriment to their
trading operations and ours is great, and we venture to hope that Your Excel­
lency’s Government wiil see its nay, either by strengthening the hands of the
ruler, or by active interference on the coast where necessary for the preserva­
tion of British interests, to take measures which will deter the unruly tribesmen
of Oman from disturbing the commerce of tho country by their dissensions.
In matters of commerce generally, wo continue to prosper, and though
during tho last few years signs have not been wanting of foreign competition,
Indian imports rule the market.
There is one depressing factor, however, of comparatively recent growth
to which we make bold to draw Your Excellency’s benevolent attention, and
that is the demoralising fluctuations in the silver exchange. Since the closing
of the Indian mints in 1893, and the consequent fall in the price of silver, the
local Dollar exchange has not ceased to exhibit remarkable fluctuations, which
greatly prejudice and impede the local import trade, from the fact that the
currency value of the rupee is fixed aDd that of the Maskat Dollar is not.
We therefore humbly commend the matter to Your Excellency’s wise consi­
deration in the hope that, in co-operation with the local Government, some
means may be devised of bringing about a better state of things.
In conclusion, we beg to reiterate our welcome, and to assure you that
this visit of "lour Excellency and your gifted Consort will be a landmark in
the history of Maskat and will live green in our memories; and it is our
earnest prayer before the 8upreme Being, in whose hands the destiny of all
of us lie, to vouchsafe to Ycur Excellency a continuance of bodily health and
strength to enable you to render further great sendees to the Empire and to
bind fresh laurels on your brow. 4
We beg to subscribe ourselves Your Excellency’s most humble servants.

II.

EU Excellency*$ reply to the foregoing.
Gentlemen,
.. U is u-11? P™1? Pleasure th8t * have received the loyal and well composed
adresa which has just been read, and that on crossing the sea from India to