Page 491 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RESIDENCY AND 31 AS RAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1003*1Ml. 10

of His Majesty tho King-Emperor to confor upon Your Highness tho high
honour of tho Grand Cross of tho Order of the Indian Empire. This dis­
tinction will be a proof to Your Highness of the sincere sentiments of friend­
ship which arc entortainod towards you by the British Government, and it is
also a recognition of the loyalty to which Your Highness has given such fervent
expression on more than ono occasion in the course of yesterday and to-day.
It will now be my pleasing duty as Grand Master of the Order to proceed to
the due and solemn investiture of Your Highness.
Tho Resident in the Persian Gulf, Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kern hall, Roeident’a
C.I.E., visited Maskat in April 1903 and again in November, a few days Agout 8 vum3,
before tho arrival of His Excellency the Viceroy.
Tho Political Agent made several short trips to various coast ports during Political
the year, including Khor Pakan, Mureir, Sliinas, Saham, Sohar, Suweik, tours.
Khaboora, Mesnaa Harka, and Seeb on the Uatineh coast and Soor to the south
of Maskat. No inland tours were found practicable this year, as in the
spring aud at the beginning of the cold season, the two most favourable times
for touring, important events were taking place which necessitated the Political
Agent’s remaining in Maskat.
The administration of the Maskat and Mattrah customs, which continue Administration
to be under the direct management of the local Government, has been satis­ of Customs.
factory so far as the relations between the Customs Superintendent, his staff,
and the trading public are concerned, complaints from merchants having been
few during tho year and easy of adjustment; but a system by which sudden
calls on the State Exchequer arc met by drafts upon the Customs
Superintendent is obviously unsound, and liable* to placo that o.Ticial in
frequent difficulties and to prevent him from doing full justice to his charge.
Judging from the trade returns which the local Government is good
enough to supply, the revenues calculated on the volume of trade must
again this year have reached tie highest figure they have yet touched chiefly
owing to a strong boom in arms just at the end of the year, the causes of
which arc not quite apparent. With such an improving revenue, if the
Sultan's fiscal administration could he conducted on somewhat more business­
like lines, the financial position of tbo Euler would be on a sounder footing
than ever before. His Highness Seyyid Faisal has in the last few years shown
such a ready inclination to profit by Western ideas in details of his Adminis­
tration, that there is every reason to hope that enlightened progress will
ultimately be introduced also in the direction under reference. Meanwhile it
is a pleasure to record this year a continuance of the great improvements
(the inception of which was mentioned in last year's report) to the customs
premises under tho direction of the new Superintendent. The new storage
warehouses, sheds, and offices have now been completed, and the merchandise
of importers is well protected against the elements, and the ingenuity of those
light-fingered gentry who formerly so frequently levied toll on it.
The temporary pier run out for the Viceroy’s visit found so much favour
with the public that the idea of having a permanent structure has been
mooted, and it is hoped will ultimately take shape. That it will be an expen­
sive undertaking goes without saying, as nothing but very solid work will with­
stand the force of the Shamal winds and heavy seas which are prevalent in the
harbour during the winter months. The cost should not be prohibitive, however.
This branch of administration has continued throughout the year to be owadur
a frequent source of worry to the Sultan and to the offices of the Political Custom*.
Officer for the Mekran coast and the Political Agent at Maskat. Ever since
the late Khoja contractor was ousted from the customs farm, and the collection
of customs dues resumed by the Sultan, there have been constant dissensions
between the mercantile community and His Highness’s customs official*
regarding the tariff. In time past this had been fixed without any method
and numerous privileges and complicated customs bad gradually crept in
which the merchants aro now very loth to change or give up, and which at
the same time aro extremely difficult to administer. The efforts of the
Director, Persian Gulf Telegraphs, and the Political Agent to hold the scales
and assist towards an amicable settlement have proved abortive and at last
m the month of February HU Highness the Sultan proceeded to Gwadnr
p 2