Page 561 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

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POE TUB YBA.E 191T.
There litis been some trouble at Khaburah owing to the fact that the Wih
, j ljeen charging illegal dues and had misappropriated money which he had
rtivod on behalf of British subjects. The Sultan has righted the complminU
fortbe moment and, should they recur, application will be made for the Wall
Jo be removed. His Highness considers him one of his best men.
The outstanding question of His Highness’ administration is his indebted-
B which amounts,to at least 5 lakhs of rupees, ttaiyid Taimur keeps no
ccounts and, as his receipts and expenditure are never balanced, he has no
*dca of what he is spending. Thus his debts increase steadily and, unless some
reforms are made, bankruptcy is the inevitable result; indeed, the terms upon
vhich he is now borrowing show that such a condition cannot be far off. flia
cheques arc not accepted unless drawn upon or guaranteed by the Customs
flnd they are usually only accepted at a discount of 40 per cent, on their face
value.
Muhammad Fuad, a Turk, who was employed by Hjs Highness in the
training of bis Nizam and who had for some years been objected to, was dis­
missed on the demand of the Political Agent. After failing to get permission
to remain at Basrah or proceed to Baghdad he was, on his return to Karachi,
arrested and interned.
Similarly, one Muhammad Tahnoon, His Highness* Agent at Lingah, had
been for some years the subject of adverse comment and of representations to
His Highness. At the request of the Political Agent he was dismissed and
replaced by Khwaja Ahmad bin Yusuf who was in good repute with the
Vice-Consul at Lingah.
The Customs Departmen. in Muscat and Muttra continued throughout
the year under the charge of the Superin­
Caroms.
tendent, Mr. Muhammad Beimoo, an
Asha Khani Khoja, and a British Indian subject, who has for many years done
business in Gwadur, where he has amassed some fortune. He has also been,
and is still, the farmer of the Gwadur Customs on behalf of His Highness.
Muhammad Reimoo has considerably improved the management of the
Customs Department in keeping definite records, but the system by which the
Customs is the Sultan’s Bank still continues, with the result that the adminis­
tration is steeped in debt and for the Spring and Monsuon months can only
continue by borrowing money from local merchants in order to pay the family
pensions and other charges with which it is burdened. The Customs Superin­
tendent is able to make use of bis position to benefit himself in his trade..
Under the Treaty of 1891 with Great Britain only 5 per cent, import tax
ran be charged, but the charge is made in dollars at a fixed rate of exchange;
consequently, with the appreciated value of the dollar, British subjects have
bten paying in actual fact as much as.8 per cent., though nominally paying but
6 per cent.
The Sur Customs, which should give’big returns to His Highness, has been,
brought under the Muscat control but, ow ing to the system of exemption, local
baud and limited authority of the Sultan over that part of the country, a tithe
°nly of the revenues which ho should receive is ever paid into his coffers.
The Customs at the smaller ports ere still farmed.
No case of Anns Traffic of any import­
Ansa Traffic.
ance was reported during the year.
Sin#!! parcels of old pattern rifles, snidere and such like with mixed
Packets of old ammunition were taken across to Mekran in sailing ships.
One Badan was caught carrying 7 rifles and some ammunition but thi»v
all of the type mentioned above.
469 British subjects registered during the year of whom? reside in
Gwadur.
BzilUfe Sabjecta.
rear There was a „ “n£’derafbl® 1DOrea89 511 legation. partly owing to the bad
l?de a?d hehlnes3 of tie moner market and partly to the greater
wmtv shown by the Sultan in disposing of eases. r gr&We