Page 588 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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CHAPTER VII.
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ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE POLITICAL AGENCY, MUSCAT
■ FOR PJ38.
Part I.
1. Agency Officials—
Political Agent . . Major R. P. Watts, I.A., throughout the year with tho
exception of from 19th May to 12th July during
which period he was on leave, and the post remained
vacant.
Medical Officer . . Military Assistant Surgeon C. E. Hynes, I.M.D.,
throughout the year.
Treasury Officor . . Mr. Nasirul Haq from 1st January to 19th March.
Mr. M. H. Khan from 20th March to the end of tho
year.
2. (a) Agency Hospital.—Tho total number of patients treated during
the year was 7,968 of which 7,863 were “ out-patients ” and 105 “ in-patients ”,
The daily average attendance being 27-5. 103 minor operations were carried
out during the year. There were no outbreaks ot any epidemics. Malaria,
eye, skin and diseases of tho digestive system continued to bo prevalent.
(b) Quarantine.—No Quarantine restrictions were imposed against any
port during the year, No cases of notifiable diseases were discovered on any
steamer using this port.
■
The Quarantine station is in a bad state of repairs but His Highness the
Sultan has promised to have the necessary work put in hand early next year.
3. Political Situation.—The Political Situation remained quiet and
without incident throughout the year.
The Sultan steadfastly pursued, his policy of endeavouring to increase
by peaceful means his influence and authority over tne interior of the country
in general and the Oman in particular. Resumption of the Muscat Gov­
ernment’s control over the Oman is probably the great ambition of the
Sultan’s life. The method adopted has been to get into touch with various
Shaikhs and Leading men of those districts of the State bordering the Oman
proper who if not directly under the control of the Imam have hitherto
been certainly more influenced by him than by the Sultan. In August
Shaikh Mohsin bin Zahran of the Siyabi Tribe, in September Shaikh Hamad
bin Mohammad of the Tal Hibi and in October Shaikh Ahmad bin Mohammad
al Yahyayi of the Zahra were the more important of the Tribal Sheikhs who
visited the Sultan in Muscat and after bemg sumptuously entertained were
sent back laden with substantial presents.
The biggest success achieved by the Sultan in this connection was in
being able to persuade the Head of the Beni Bu Ali Tribe to come in to
Muscat in the first week of October.
This notorious tribe, which provides some of the best fighting material
to be found anywhere in the State, occupies a peculiar position in that it
is subservient neither to the Imam of Oman nor to the Sultan. It has, in
fact, for many years enjoyed virtual independence. A portion of Sur, the
largest town and port in the State belongs to the Tribe and their position
here and oil the flank of the main trade route between the Oman and the
coast together with the warlike qualities of the tribe make them one of the
most formidable and strongest factors in State politics.
Sheikh Air who was accompanied by forty followers stayed some two
weeks in Muscat where he was treated as a very honoured guest of the Sultan.
The expenses of his visit are believed to be not less than Rs. 14,000 which
amount, to a State in the poor financial position of M uscat, is a not inconsider­
able sum.
The Sultan has in fact being buying the goodwill of the tribes of the
interior and the only means which have enabled him to adopt this policy
is the comparatively large sums he received from Petroleum Concessions
Ltd., in 1937 in return for his grant to them of an oil exploratory concession
in Muscat and Dhofar.