Page 520 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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VIII. SLAVER?.
40 slaves applied for manumission certificates during
the year under report and 30 wore granted. Of the 40 appli-
canta 11 were captured olavea and the remainder domoatic slavea.
IX. ETfEMY ACTIVITIES.

Nil.
X. WEATHER.
In common with the Shaikhdons of the Persian Gulf,
Muscat experienced a very unpleasant stumer. Total rainfall
during the year amounted to 18 cents and the absence of rain
at the end of the year is generally regarded as a bad omen for
the coming summer.

PART II.

I. RULING FAMILY.
(a) His Highness Saivid Said bin Talmurs His High-
ness the Sultan returned from India to Dhofar on the 12th Feb­
ruary in an aircraft provided by the United States Government.
On the 4th April, he paid an official visit to Kasirah
island and inspected the various installations and buildings of
the Royal Air Force, the United States Transport Command, the
Agen Protectorate Levies and the Eritish Overseas Airways Cor­
poration.
In May, His Highness arrived at Muscat, where he
stayed for the remainder of the year.
His long absence from the capital of his State and
the consequent inadequate supervision over the various depart­
ments of his Government had resulted in the standard of admi­
nistration falling to a deplorably low level. Immediately
on arrival, His Highness set about the much needed re-organisa­
tion with vigour. He took into his ovrn hands the direction
of financial natters and control of the Treasury, preparing
himself ILe long overdue budget. His Director General of
Customs, who had previously acted as Finance Officer, was ins­
tructed to concern himself with Customs matters only. The
control and distribution of essential supplies and the regu­
lation of price levels, in connection with which a number of
malpractices and abuses had been allowed to go up, were placed
on a more satisfactory basis under his personal direction.
His actions soon produced a very marked improvement in all
branches of his administration.
IQ March, His Highness requested the assistance of
the Political Agent in securing the services of a British Of­
ficer to act as his principal Adviser apd to undertake a number
of executive and administrative responsibilities, War time
conditions made it difficult to find a suitable person for
this post, and, upto the end of the year no appointment had
been made.

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