Page 714 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

58 ANNUAL BEPOBT ON THE PEBSIAN GULP POLITICAL BF.SIDENOT.
That the provision of personnel is a pressing problem and that trustworthy
psroonnol is unobtainable from among his own subjects the Sultan well knows,
end in consequence ho approached the Political Agent with a request for the
loan of an officer to act as his Wnzir. This proposal was agreed to by Qoy.
ernmeht and Captain D. V. UfioCollum, who had been recently political Agent
at Koweit, is on his way out xo take up the appointment. A considerable
improvement may bo expected when this officer arrives.
There has been no Arms Traffic. No purchases wore made from the
Arms Warehouse.
Armi Traffic.
883 British subjects registered during the year, of whom 99 reside in
BritLb subject* cad Brit lib interests. Gwadur.
The question of post office at Muttrah remains undecided and will await
the possible redistribution of work should mail steamers call at the port
Muttrah.
Since July 1919, the lighthouse has been out of order owing to a leaky
pipe.
The 3rd Brahmans were relieved by the 2-lst Brahmans, who arrived on
2nd February. The 3rd Brahmans left
Britnh troop* lo Omen.
for India on the 14th February.
The barracks bavo been completed and electric light and fans installed in
the fork.
The Inland Water Transport Officer.—Captain G. Howard Jackson, R.E.,
Inland Water Transport Officer, Muscat, arrived on 5th March and re-opened
the Inland Water Transport Dep6t in connection with paddle and other
steamers which were passiug en route to Port Said, He was again transferred
to Basrah on 15 th May.
Naval.—Engineer Commander G. W. Hollins, R.N., Naval Transport
Officer, Muscat, proceeded on leave to Bombay on the 5th June, temporarily
handing over duties of tho Naval Transport Officer to the Political Agent.
however did not return lo Muscat and, under orders of the Director, Royal
Indian Marine, Bombay, the Naval Transport office was closed in October.
Such Naval Transport work as received is being carried on as before the war
by tho Political Agent.
Mr. J. H. Bill, I.C.8., Deputy Political Resident, arrived at Muscat on
11th May and left on the 12th May.
Tbit*.
General A. M. S. Elsmie, C.M.G , commanding at Bushire, arrived on 11th
May and left 12th May.
Major Bowman with Sheikh Faisal, son of Ibn Saud, and Sheikh Ahmed
Thanaiyan Ibn Saud and Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Jabir of Koweit arrived at
Muscat on 2nd September. The Sheikhs’ party visited His Highness on the
3rd and were entertained by him at lunch, at which the Political Agent, Major
Bowman and Captain Bright of the Egyptian army wore present. His. High­
ness presented Sheikh Faisal with two Omani camels and Sheikh Ahmed
with one.
Mr. 8. N. Wilson, Director, Persian Gulf Telegraphs, Karachi^ arrived on
15th December and left the same day.
A few reports of sales of slaves in Oman and the Batineh Coast ports
were received. The persons sold were
8Ut» Tcadai
mostly Baluchis.
There were 22 petitions for manumission daring the year, out of which 13
were manumitted. Three case3 have been referred to Sbargah for further infor­
mation arid remain .pending. In the other cases, certificates were not required.
As usual the majority of persons sold were brought over from Mekran. It
hoped" that the small remains of the traffic on the Batinch coast will gradually
disappear once tfte Tal 8adj, the most notorious of the slave dealing tribes, are