Page 307 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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III. EDUCATION.
Anwar al-Tamini, a Palestinian, was headmaster of the
local primary school throughout the year. Average attendance
was 135 pupils. His Highness the Sultan sanctioned a grant of
fe.18,000 for the school and it is housed in really a nice
building. Saiyid Thuwaini, son of the Minister for External
Affairs, is an assistant master.
IV. GENERAL CO:^TUNIC AT IONS.
(I) Muscat now has direct cable communication with Aden,
Bahrain, Bushire and Karachi.
(ii) The R.A.F. wireless station works Ras al Hadd, Masirah
and Sharjah.
Y. TRANSPORT.
External.
Only nine steamers from India and nine from Persian
Gulf ports called during the year.
The sinking of the "Dahpu" was upsetting and owing to
the most extraordinary lack of co-operation between the
British-India Steam Navigation Company's agents, the Post
Office and the Sea Transport Officer in Karachi, Muscat was
without mails from that port for over five months.

Internal.
The Agency launch was out of action for most of the
year. There is no car for the Political Agent nor can he
afford to purchase one, as second-hand cars (without spares)
at fantastic prices are only available.
VI. POLICE.

Mohammad Jaw ad Darwcsh was in charge of the Police
force throughout the year.
VII. DEFENCE.
Captain/Temporary Major L.B. Hirst, 10th Gurkha Rifles,
acted as Military Adviser to the Muscat Government throughout
the year.
A copy of his report to His Highness the Sultan Is
attached and the account of his administrative difficulties
could apply equally well to the state of affairs throughout
the civil population.

It will be noticed that the Political Agent is referred
to as the Consul. This is a political nicelty which His
Highness takes very seriously.
A Coast-Watching scheme is in operation but it is
entirely confined to local resources and is therefore very
limited in scope.

Harbour defences consist of a 3-pdr. gun in Mirani Fort.
It is intended to augment them with the 12-pdr. from the
■Dahpu", when mended.

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