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2 ADMINlSrilATION KKI’OKT OK I UK I'F.HSIAN CII’I.F
                                                                  FOM'I ir.VT. HKSJUKNCY
                                                   Part I.
                                    GENERAL REPORT FOR 1877-78.
                                            Sphere of Jurisdiction.

                          1. For the purposes of this Report, the territories over which (his
                      Residency exercises political supervision, or with which it has relations
                      may he classified in the following order:—
                              1. —The Muscat Stale, or Principality of Oman.
                              2. —The Aral) Coast of the Persian Gulf and adjacent islands,
                                     exclusive of Muscat and Turkish territory. Indepen­
                                     dent Chiefdoms.
                              3. —El-Bahrein. Independent.
                              4. —Nejd and Kl-Katr. More or less under Turkish rule.
                              5. —Province of Pars and coasts and islands of the Persian
                                     Gulf and Indian Ocean, subject to Persia.
                              0.—Bassidorc. British Station.

                                                 1.—Oman.

                          2.  A report on the territories under the rule of Ilis Highness
                     Seyyid Toorkee has lxren prepared, as usual, by the Political Agent of
                     Muscat, and forms Parts III and IV of this compilation.
                          3.  It will he observed that in the month of May a serious, and
                     to the Sultan dangerous, crisis occurred, which was only weathered by
                     the active intervention of the British representative and Naval oflieers.
                     The manner in which the crisis was met by Mr. Robertson, then Acting
                     Political Agent., with the able co-operation of Captain Wodchouse,
                     Commanding Her Majesty’s Ship Tcazer, was highly creditable to those
                     officers, and received the approval of tiie Government. Mr. Robertson
                     bad the advantage of the presence and advice of Lieutenant-Colonel
                     Miles on the occasion. Certain recommendations were submitted to
                     (•overt)incut by the Acting Political officers regarding the levy of
                     indemnity from the rebellious Arabs, which proposals are still under
                     reference.
                          4.  The political condition of this country and Government is not
                      as yet one of security, and a vessel of war has been kept almost   con-
                      btautly on the watch over Muscat. The Political Agent notices that
                      emigration has set in from Oman, the mother country, to the Zanzibar
                      territories.
                          5.  Ilis Highness Seyyid Toorkee is desirous of the establishment
                      of telegraphic communication between Muscat and the more civilized
                      world, and the measure would carry certain political and other advan­
                      tages.

                                               2.—Aral Coast.
                          6. The Oman Coast of the Persian Gulf, now referred to, is
                      divided into little independent eoinmunities of Arabs, each governed by
                      its Chief, or Shaikh. Six of these petty Chiefdoms are bound by engage-
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