Page 632 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

DO ANNUAL EEPOPT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
452 British subjects registered during the year of whom 136 reside in
Gwadur.
Biitiah Babjooti and British Interoits.
The majority of British subjects consisting of Khojas live in Muttra.
These Khojas have become a double community ono half of them being British
subjects while the other half from failure of their fathers to register have
become Arab subjects. A largo number of these are in law British subjects as
their grandfathers were such but it has not been customary in Muscat to
register them. All or nearly all now desire to become British subjects, and it i8
a question which will require consideration on favourable occasion As it i8
doubtful whether it is legal to refuse to a man the right of registration when
he po."Dssse8 the necessary qualifications under the law of the country to
which he can claim to belong. Locally it would bo convenient if tlie bulk of
the Khoja community were British' subjects and I have several times been
approached on the subject by those concerned.
The question of a British Post Office at Muttra has several times been
raised but has, owing to the war, been allowed to drop. The Muttra community
are now anxious to take the question up once more.
The Sultan’s consent having been obtained to the erection of a lighthouse,
the necessary arrangements were made by the Royal Indian Marine for its
erection on Muscat Island. The site has been prepared and the lighthouse was
completed after the close of the year, but a pipe is awaited to put it in working
order. In June red leading lights for ships were installed, one on the Consular
Flagstaff and one on the wall of the pass behind. These lights have a bearing
of 157° S. 25 E.
The 3rd Brahmans remained at Bait-
British TVoops in Oman.
el-Falaj throughout the year.
The old Fort, in which the officers live, wa3 considerably improved and a
verandah sanctioned to keep the summer sun from the walls.
Electric light and fans have been sanctioned for the officers and for the
hospital.
Barracks for the men made of stone and mud were also commenced aiid
should be ready for the next hot weather.
The Inland Water Transport Officer was transferred in November and the
barge which had been used for supplying oil to paddle boats removed.
A Marine transport officer was appointed to Muscat, the post beiDg
taken over on the 7th June by Engineer
NovaL
Lieutenant G. W. Hollings, R. I M-
(temporary), who also resumed charge of the Coal Dep6t with an establishment
consisting of one clerk and a launch with crew. This relieved the Political
Agent of a certain amount of work whioh he and his staff had been performing
throughout the war.
Major-General Sir.P. Z. Cox, G C.I.E., K.C.S.I., arrived at Muscat on
the 7th March and left for Port Said in the
Visit*.
I. W. T. Steam Yacht “Ivy” on the
Ilth.
His Excellency Lord Willingdon, Governor of Bombay, and Lady Willing*
don visited Muscat in the H. T. “ Elepbanta ” while returning from Meso­
potamia. Their Excellencies visited His Highness the Sultan and then went
to see the troops at Bait-el-Falaj.
Mr. J. H. Bill, Deputy Political Resident, arrived on inspection in H. M. S.
“Lawrence” on the 16th June leaving on the 20th June.
Lieutenant-Colonel A. 8, G. Muscroft, Supply [and Transport Corps, visited
Bait-el-Falaj on inspection arriving February 16th and leaving early in March-
There are continued reports regarding individual sale? of slaves in Oman and
c, . , in the Batineh ports. In the latter case
uaw tbe persons sold are Baluchis but cases
of Arabs even have been heard of.