Page 236 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

6 ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
The year was marked by the establishment of a Vice-Consulate for the
French Republic at Maskat; Monsieur Paul Ottavi arriving on tho 8th November
to assume the office.
Early in tho year a high rise in tho exchange value of Indian copper
coin in relation to the dollar, leading to its extensive export, and the consequent
scarcity and general inconvenience thereby caused, induced His Highness to
import machinery and set up a mint The institution suffered severely at the
hands of the rebels, but will probably be restored-
In the case of a Persian bagla which was wrecked off Mahout on the
south-east coast, and the crew of which were set upon and robbed by tho
Bedouins, eight negroes of their number being reduced to slavery, Bis Highness
took prompt and effective action, resulting in the recovery and release of most
of the enslaved men.
The trade returns for Maskat show a satisfactory result. Excluding the
movements of specie, the total volume of trade is greater than for the preceding
year, the increase being mainly in the imports.

2.—OMAN PIRATE COAST.
In April the Resident visited this coast in H. M. S. Sphinx.
An outbreak of dengue fever in the early part of the pearl season prevented
many of the divers from going, as usual, to the pearl banks. This reduced the
take of pearls, which was therefore rather below that of the year before.
The Chiefs of Shargah and Ras-el-Khymah proposed to rebuild Hair, a
town of the Jowasmis, the destruction of which was noticed in last year’s
report. The Shoohochs, however, who had destroyed it, opposed the restoration.
The Bas-el-Kbymah Chief accordingly contemplated an attack on that tribe
with the aid of Shargah, but the project remained in abeyance.
A defensive alliance was entered into by the Sheikh of Um-el-Kawain
with the Kutub tribe inhabiting the vicinity.
By the mediation of Sultan-bin-Muhammad, Chief of the Naeem tribe, a
reconciliation was effected between the Chiefs of Shargah and Ajman, each
side agreeing to forego his demands in respect of grievances against the other.
An amicable settlement of the incident noticed in the last report, when a
boat with the Ajman Chief on board was alleged to have been fired upon
from Haireh, was included in the above arrangement of differences.
Sheikh Rashid, the Chief of Debay, died on the 7th April, and his
nephew, Sheikh Makhtoom-bin-Hashar, succeeded him in the Chiefship.
The sons of Sheikh Basbid formed a conspiracy against the new Chief; but
the latter seized and imprisoned them for five months. On their release,
they took refuge with the Chief of Shargah, who has given them an asylum
and a small compassionate allowance.
In January the Manaseer and Al-Murrah tribes raided the inland dis­
tricts between Abu-Dtbabi and Ras-el-Khymah and carried off about 400
camels and 100 horses. The Chiefs of Abu-Dthabi and Debay accordingly
made preparations to check them, and ordered their subject Bedouins to move
to the coast. The Chief of Abu-Dthabi has also moved troops to protect
the Beni-Kutub tribe, who possess large herds and have applied to him for
assistance.
In November 1894 a Banian was robbed of cash and pearls to a con­
siderable amount at Dalmah, an island belonging to the Chief of Abu-Dthabi.
The action of the Chief and his deputy at Dalmah were not satisfactory, and
the Resident addressed a letter of remonstrance to the Chief, who answered