Page 311 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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ot this report, the State lias hitherto failed to honour its liabilities in this con­
nection.
A proposal for the temporary continuance of the Arms Traffic subsidy is'
under con.sideration.The loss of this subsidy to the State will be much felt at
this juncluie and will still further postpone the payment of outsanding debts
awl Uii! introduction of education and other desirable reforms.
The increase of import duty on certain commodities agreed to by some of
the Government’s in Treaty Alliance with the State has afforded some im­
provement in Customs Revenues derived from those particular lines. This ad­
vantage however has been considerably set off by the decrease in the general
value of imports, as related in Part I of this report.
An unfortunate aspect of the tightening up of the Customs and Revenues
administration has been the extortionate demands that are reported to have
been imposed by the Director of Revenues, which in some cases would appear
to be wholly illegal. This is particularly applicable to the Batinah coastal towns
and to a lesser extent in Gwadur. In the former case the method of taxation is
driving both traders and the holders of smaller date plantations to abandon their
concerns and to seek refuge elsewhere.
The situation is one that will need careful watching in the future to avert
the untimely decease of the goose that has hitherto produced eggs which, if not
always golden, have at any rate sustained the State.
(Note.—Tn the Spring of 193;) the Political Resident, during a visit to Muscat, took
the opportunity of representing this state of affairs to the Sultan, who had been absent
from the State in India for some months. Steps were taken to remedy the grievances
of British subjects, and the Sultan promised that he would keep a stricter check on his
Director of Customs and Revenue in the future, and would visit the Batinah area to in­
vestigate personally the conditions prevailing there.)
3. Events of Political Interest in State. Limits.—(a) In connection with the
reconnaissance mentioned in Part 1 of this Report, His Highness the Sultan
deputed a representative to accompany the expedition on each occasion. For the-
first Saiyid Shahab bin Faisal was appointed and for the second His Highness’s
choice fell on Saiyid Mahmud bin Faisal.
Those reconnaissances thus afforded excellent opportunities for members of
the Ruling Family to get in touch with the wilder and most remote parts of the
Sultanate, which otherwise remain unvisited.
During the November expedition contact was made with Shaikh Said bin
Sultan bin Mohd. el Majali of Mahut, whose paramount influence on the South East
littoral of the Sultanate between Masiiv.h and Sauqrah was immediately apparent..
The extent of the Shaikh’s influence apparently had hitherto been unknown to
the Sultan, but it is hoped from the experience now gained His Highness will
derive considerable political benefit.
(b) Much uneasiness and discontent prevails on the Batinah coast both
among British and Muscati subjects owing to the methods of taxation and to the
alleged constant issue of new rules and regulations by the Director of Customs
and Revenue.
On all sides complaints are heard of the difficulty in obtaining .justice at the
hands of the Muscat authorities. Certainly from the experience of certain cases
affecting British subjects taken up by the Political Agent, there would appear
to be considerable justification for these complaints and justice, whether at the
Headquarters of the Government or in the various ^Vilayets, would seem to be at
a discount.
(r) During the course of the year the State has had cause to voice a pro­
test at the unauthorised visit of the Persian Consul at Quetta to Gwndur and of
tjic seizures of a Muscati dhow by Persian officials.
4. Events hi Oman.—Nothing of outstanding importance lias been reported
from Oman. Inter-tribal rates and squabbles continue but apart from carawms.