Page 371 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER VII.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR MASKAT FOR THE NINE
MONTHS ENDING 31st DECEMBER 1908.

On April 1st, Major W. G. Grey, Political Agent, left Maskat on long The political
leave owing to sickness. Captain Norman Scott, I.M.S., was appointed t°£o^iot"d
officiate as Political Agent in addition to his own duties pending arrival of
another officer.
On May 4th, Major P. Z. Gox, C.I.E., arrived in the Lawrence from
Bushire. The usual official visits were exchanged and the Resident left
again on May 6th.
On May 11th, Mr. D’Mello, the Agency Head Clerk, retired. The British
Indian Hindu community presented him with an address enclosed in a silver
casket.
On July 13th, Captain F. McConaghey, I.A., arrived and took charge of
the office of Political Agent.
On September 10th, Lance Naik Bani Singh of the Political Agent’s
escort died from pneumonia.
On November 2nd, a salute of 31 guns was fired by His Highness in
honour of the 50th anniversary of the assumption of the Government of
India by the British Crown.
On November 9th, the Birthday of His Majesty the King-Emperor, a
salute of 31 guns was fired by His Highness’s battery and the usual honours
were paid.
On November 11th, Mr. R. E. Holland, I.C.S., took over charge of the
office of Political Agent from Captain McConaghey who left for India.
Captain Norman Scott, I.M.S., held charge of the office of Agency
Surgeon throughout the period under report.
On December 1st, ten huts on the Khor Makalla, very near the Govern­
ment Coal Depot, caught fire and were burnt.
His Highness the Sultan has enjoyed good health during the period under ins Highnws
report. the Sultan.
In March 1908, the Sultan received, from a Sidi subject of his, by name
Habib-bin-Sulayim, resident in the Congo Free State, a magnificent present
consisting of 54 cases containing telephone material, acetylene gas plant, a
clock tower and other articles to the total value of about R35,000. The
articles were of German manufacture, and the cases were consigned to His
Highness by the Hamburg firm of Warnholtz and Gossler. In October 1908
it was rumoured that His Highness had received a letter from Habib, in
which he offered a lakh of rupees as a present to the Sultan and mentioned
that he hoped to arrive shortly in Maskat. He asked that a house might be
placed at his disposal on arrival, and that a suitable plot of land might be
given him for building purposes.
In December, another Sidi subject of His Highness, by name Maj id-bin
Said-bin-Sam, also resident in the Congo Free State, wrote and offered
presents to His Highness.
On May 7th, His Highness received news of the death of his uncle,
Salim-bin-IIamed-bin-Sultan, in Zanzibar.
On July 7th, Saiyid Muhammad-bin-Turki, the Sultan’s brother, lost
one of his sons.
His Highness with his sons, Saiyids Taimur and Nadir, went to Watayah
on October 26th and returned on November 5th.
Relations between the Agency and His Highness the Sultan were entirely
cordial throughout the year.