Page 53 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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II. M. S. " Hastings ” .. 15th January, 20th April, 28th July, 6th
August, 11th and 17th September.
II. M. S. " Triad ” .. 3Ut January, 10th and 25th July, 21st
August, 12th December.
I. G. T. S. “ Patrick Stewart ” 13th February.
II. M. S. “ Cyclamen ” .. 13th February. I
II. M. I. S. “ Hindustan ” 9th March.
II. M. S. “ Penzance ” .. 2Gth March, 1st, 14th and 20th April, 1st.
8th, 14th and 25th July, 24th August,
2nd September, 23rd October, 0th De-
cembcr.
H. M. I. S. " Clive ” .. 24th May.
L. T. “ Nearchus ” .. 19th June, 24th September,
II. M. S. “ Fowcy ” .. 11th November,
H. M. S. “ Emerald ” .. 10th December.
II. M. S. “ Shoreham ” .. 11th December.
33. Aviation.—Flying boats, in the earlier part of the year “ Southampton ”
and in the latter “ Rangoons ”, visited Muscat and other places in the State as
noted on the following dates:—
18th-20th January .. one “ Southampton ”,
28th February—1st March two do.
25th March—1st April .. two do.
20tk-2Gth May .. .. two “ Rangoons ” Muscat and Masirah Is­
land.
29th July—0th August .. two “ Rangoons ” Muscat and Ivhor Jaramah.
11 th-19th December .. One “ Rangoon
12 th-22 nd December one do.
13th-10th December .. Air Vice-Maishal Ludlow-Hewitt with 2
“ Rangoons ” flew to Marbat (Dhofar)
to meet a flight of aeroplanes from Aden.
34. Climate.—The total rainfall registered during the year amounted to 5 03
inches. The maximum and minimum temperatures registered during the year were
114'8 on 2nd July and 52'7 on 14th December respectively.
The summer, like last year, was less trying than usual.
35. Muscat Infantry.—Captain R. A. Walker completed his term of duty as
Commandant of the Corps and left to rejoin his regiment on the 23rd April. Owing
to financial strigency no Commandant was appointed to succeed him, but it was
arranged with the Council of Ministers that at the end of the year Captain Alban,
Indian Political Department, should take up the duties of Commandant as well as
Financial Adviser at the beginning of 1932.
The Agency guard was furnished from this Corps.
30. Slave Traffic.—Twenty-two slaves took refuge at the Agency during the
year all of whom were manumitted after enquiries.
The comments made in last year’s Report may here be repeated :—
“ It should be noted that there is no question of the slaves—while with
their masters—being kept in durance, shakled with chains, etc.
On the contrary they are generally used for work far removed from
the houses of their masters in date gardens, pearling and so forth.
This means that the great majority of the slaves have ample oppor­
tunity for leaving their masters should they wish to, and for seeking
manumission at this Agency, and the fact that such manumission can
be obtained is no>v widely known throughout the State. ”

T. C. FOWLE, LieutrColonel,
Political Agent and H, B. M.’s Consul, Muscat,
UC392FD