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CHAPTER IX.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIK POLITICAL AGENCY
MUSCAT FOR THE YEAR 1035.

PART I.
1. (A) Agency Officials.—
Political Agent: Major C. E. U. Bremner, M.C., from 1st Jauuary
to 5tli June 1935.
Major R. P. Watts, I.A. from 6th June to the end of the year.
Medical Officer: Assistant Surgeon R. Eascy, I.M.D., throughout
the year.
Treasury Officer: Mr. A. S. Norton from 1st January to 10th August
1935.
Mr. Maqbul Husain Khan from 11th August to 31st December 1935.
(B) Agency in General.—The Agency Electric Installation which had
been sanctioned in 1934 was completed and the Plant commenced working in
February. This much needed amenity which in the notoriously trying cli­
mate of Muscat can hardly be said to be a luxury, has been greatly appre­
ciated by all members of the Agency.
New servants’ quarters and garages were completed during the year.
2. (A) Agency Hospital.—Early in the yea/ Agency Hospital, where
all patients are treated free and which receives no grant from the State
although the vast majority of patients treated are Muscati subjects, had
fallen into a parlous financial condition. A joint meeting of leading
Muscati and British subjects was held in April and a sum of some Rs. 3,000
raised by subscriptions as a contribution towards the funds of the Hospital.
His Highness himself contributed Rs. 500. The Hospital finances, are as
a result now in a comparatively sound condition.
The total number of patients treated during the year was 9,030 of which
161 were “in patients” and 9,409 “out patients”. The number shows an
increase of 780. The daily average attendance was 70-20. 1,240 operations
were carried out during the year.
There was no outbreak of any epidemics. There were two imported
cases of smallpox.
Malaria, Skin, Eye and diseases of the digestive system continued to be
the most prevalent.
(B) Quarantine.—The much needed repairs to the quarantine station
were carried out early in the year. When quarantine restrictions have to he
imposed the arrangements now in force for dealing with the segregation
of passengers from infected ports are satisfactory.
3. Political Affairs.—(1) The political situation continued quiet and
uneventful throughout the year. Matters of lesser importance affecting the
interests of His Majesty’s Government and the Sultanate have been dealt
with under appropriate* headings in Part II of the Report.
(2) The Commercial Treaty between His Majesty’s Government and the
Sultan was renewed on its due date, 11th February.
4. Judicial.—Judicial matters form the subject of a separate report.
5. Trade —Imports and exports during the year 1934-35 showed an
improvement as will be seen from the following figures supplied by the local
Customs Department:—
Year. Imports. Export'.
1933-34 . 30,08.222 . . 18.81.310
1034-35 . 36,13,710 . 25,01,387
The principal articles of export continued to be dry and wet dates and
dried fish, whilst imports are chiefly composed of rice, flour, cofToe, textiles,
sugar, spices, wines and liquors.

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