Page 302 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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The reduction in the numbor of outdoor caaoa is duo to tho
largo numbor of coolies employed on tho South Arabian Air
Route•
Malaria, eyo infections and vonoreal diseases are still
tho main probloras.
(c) Quarantine.
Small pox was again prevalent on the Batinah Coast and
a number of cases found their way into tho towns of Matrah
and Muscat causing a mild opidcmic. Stringent measures were
taken and the epidemic was soon controlled. Vaccinations were
carried out in headquarters but there was difficulty in obtain­
ing fresh lymph and thero wa3 not enough to send a vaccinator
to the coastal towns.
There were no other infectious diseases.
III. POLITICAL SITUATION.

(a) Tribal.
Fight between the people of Ibri and Beni Ghafir. In an
affray, in April 1943, between the people of Ibri and tho Beni
Ghafir, casualties amounted to 67 killed and 26 wounded, the
Beni Ghafir having considerably the better of the exchanges.
Amongst tho killed wore the son and the nephew of the Sheikh
of Hamran and Ahmed bin Said, brother of the Qadhi of Sohar.
The cause of the trouble was a series of petty thefts committed
by each side against the other. The dispute was finally
settled by the mediation of Saiyid Ahmed bin Ibrahim, Minister
for Internal Affairs, and Sheikh Sulaiman of the Jebel Akhdar.
In early January the tribal loaders assembled at Qabail
to discuss the restrictions imposed by the Muscat Government
on the export of rice from Muscat to Oman. The meeting
decided that Sheikh Isa bin Saleh al Harthi should represent
the grievances of the tribesmen to the Muscat Government and,
if these were not removed, the Treaty of Sib, 1920, should be
denounced. Actually, Sheikh Mohammad bin Isa came to Muscat
on his father's behalf and the negotiations ended satisfactorily
It was recognised that the lack of rice was not the fault of
the Muscat Government and a tribal agent was appointed to
Muscat to purchase the Omanis' share of wheat and barley.
In June 1943, Saiyid Mohammed bin Hilal, Wall of Rustaq
and the last relative of tho Muscat Ruling Family remaining
in an official position in tribal territory, was dismissed by
the Imam.

(b) Local.
Death of Wall of Boshar. The death of the Wall of
Boshar, Sheikh Alt bin Abdullah al Khalili occurred suddenly
in somewhat suspicious circumstances on the 24th of April.
He had been visiting the Wall of Matrah, Ismail Khalil al
Rassosi, with whom he drank a glass of sherbet and Just after
he left the house he fell dead in tho road. His body was
examined by the Agency Surgeon and by Dr. Thoms of the
American Mission Hospital, both of whom reported that death
was duo to heart failure. Relatives however suspected poison.
Though the late Wall was the brother of the Imam of Oman he
was a loyal and valued servant of the Sultan of Muscat. The
latter directed that ha should be succeeded as Wall by his

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