Page 146 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

134 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

In February the fort of Bethel Ainan, in the province of Dahirch was
wrested from the Beni Ohatir trilx? by Bclooeh colonists residing in its vici­
nity, who asserted that they held it on behalf of Ilis Highness the Sul­
tan. In countenancing this act, Ilis Highness has given oircncc to Sheikh
Burgash, the Ghafliroc Chief ; the policy of the measure is very doubtful.
His Highness has added a considerable tract of country on the
Iladramant Coast to his possessions during the past year, but his sove­
. .
reignty over the tract in question is on so insecure a basis that it would
he premature to consider it an integral part of 'Omtfn.
On the 27th April, Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, Political Agent,
proceeded on privilege leave making
Official changes. over
charge to Dr. Jayakar and returned
Oil the 15th May. In June, Lieutenant-Colonel Miles was appointed to
officiate as Political Agent in Turkish Arabia and proceeded to Baghdad,
in a king over charge of his office to Surgeon Jayakar under the orders of
Government. On the 16th July, Major Euan Smith, who had been
gazetted as Political Agent at Muskat, arrived and assumed charge.
Major Euan Smith was in turn relieved by Surgeon Brereton on being
posted to Kandahar on special political duty. Dr. Brereton held charge
from the 3rd January to the 25th February 1880, when he was relieved
by Major Charles Grant.
This trade is fast dying out owing to the vigilance of Her Majesty's
cruisers on the East African station,
Slave-trade.
and no cargoes have arrived in His
Highness the Sultan’s ferrilories in the year under report.
In July the British Ship b'uthool Carrim of Singapoor, bound
from Jeddah to Singapoor, put into
Marine.
Muskat iu distress and was condemned
bv a hoard of survey convened under the orders of this Consulate. She
subsequently (after the setting in of the N.E. monsoon) sailed to
Bombay under a provisional pass, after undergoing extensive repairs, one
of the conditions under which she sailed being that she was to have a
bughia in tow to save life in case of danger.
There has been a marked increase in the trade of the port during
the past year, as will be seen from the
Trade.
trade returns accompanying, the exports
being nearly double that of the preceding year, and there has been
an improvement also as regards the imports. The date harvest was an
exceedingly prolific one, and the exports under this head alone are more
than double that of 1878-79; while the rice imports also compare
favourably with that of the previous year. As a sea-port, the small town
of Soor, situated a few leagues west of Ras El Had, is daily rising in
importance as a trade entrepot, and this is owing chiefly to the fact that
traders are there able to evade the import duty which His Highness is
not sufficiently strong to protect.
The rainfall during the year under report has been niL
The Muskat customs, which includes that of Muttrah, was farmed
for 110,000 dollars.
(Sd.) Charles Grant, Major,'
U. B. AL’i Belli. Agent $ Consul, Muskat.