Page 52 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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ground at the village of Umm Rasas. The Islanders proved abstinatc as to the
making of any agreement, but by the end of the year had grown accustomed to the
visits of flying boats, and when the Air Vice-Marshal made his flight to Dhofar
(see paragraph 33) petrol was dumped at Umm Rasas and not interfered with.
24. Gwadur.—The post of the British Agent, Gwadur, was held thoughout
the year by Sultan Khan, Military pensioner.
Affairs remained normal during the year except for the murder of a Khoja,
one Ghulam Ali, son of Karam Ali, which occurred on the loth February. Infor­
mation of the murder was received by wire from the British Agent, Gwadur, on
the 16th February, and the Ilon’ble the Political Resident was communicated with.
Under arrangement with the Senior Naval Officer a sloop arrived at Muscat on the
morning of the 18th February, embarked Shaikh Zubair, the Muscat State Minister
of Justice, and the Political Agent, and landed the party at Gwadur on the 19th.
Shaikh Zubair and the Political Agent, sitting as a combined Court of Enquiry,
instituted an exhaustive investigation which lasted from the 1.9th-23rd February
during which over 30 witnesses were closely examined, and the scene of the crime
was frequently visited. The murdered man had been discovered on the morning of
the 16th February in his shop, which was also his home, with his throat cut. He
was last seen alive on the previous evening. No evidence was forthcoming to bring
the murderer, or murderers, to light, nor to throw suspicion in any particular
direction. The Khoja community expressed their gratitude for the promptness
and thoroughness with which the enquiry had been conducted.
25. Towaids the end of the year, at the suggestion of the Political Agent and
with the cooperation of the State, a Standing Khoja-Baluch Committee was ini­
tiated at Gwadur. Its raison d'etre is on special occasions to assist the Wali and
the Biitish Agent to keep the peace between the Khoja and Baluch communities
in the event of any unfortunate incident arising between them, and on ordinary
occasions to assist as far as possible in the settling of Khoja-Baluch civil disputes
in an amicable manner out of Court.
26. Missionary Work.—Missionary activity was represented throughout the
year by Rev. D. Dykstra and family, Dr. (Miss) Hosmon and Dr. and Mrs. VV. II.
Storm of the Dutch Reformed Church of the United States of America. In May
Mrs. Storm died in India.
27. In March Dr. Storm visited Wadi Muawil, Nakhal, Jabcl Akhdar and
Rustak. At Muawil he is said to have performed 20 operations two of which proved
fatal. 7hese places are outside the jurisdiction of the Muscat State and he visited
them in spite of the Council of Ministers and the Political Agent accepting no
responsibility for his safety.
With the sanction of the Council Dr. .(Miss) Hosmon accompanied by l\Irs.
Dykstra and an Indian nurse visited Sohar, Saham and Khaburah.
A good deal of material has been imported and the building operations of a
hospital at Matrah are proceeding.
28. Visits of Government officials.—13th-15th February—The Hon’ble Lieute­
nant-Colonel H. V. Biscoe, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, accompanied by
his Secretary Captain J. R. L. Bradshaw and the Residency Surgeon Major
H. J. M. Symons, M.C., I.M.S.
29. 28th Febiuary-lst March—Air Vice-Marshal E. R. Ludlow-Hewitt, C.B.,
C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., accompanied by his staff and other officers.
30. 20th-25th May—Captain C. G. Prior, Political Agent, Bahrain.
31. 12th-16th December.—The Hon’ble Lieutenant-Colonel H. V. Biscoe,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Captain R. G. Alban, Under Secretary to the
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Mr. J. Croning, Confidential Assistant to the
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Air Vice-Marshal Ludlow-Hewitt, Air Officer
Commanding, Iraq, Mr. Baggalay, 2nd Secietary to the Legation at Tehran.
32. Visits of H. M. Ships.—The following Ships of War and Royal Indian
Marine Ships visited Muscat during the year:—
H. M. Sf “ Folkestone ” .. 12th January, 13th February, 6th, 18th and
24th March, 20th April, 23rd June, 1st
July, 23rd August,