Page 646 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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! It will be seen that the imports and exports during the year 1938-39 have
been increased by Rs. 7,09,068 and Rs. 32,924 respectively.
The principal articles of import were rice and piece-goods arid those of!
export were dry and wet dates and dried fish. Japan remained the ehief sup­
plier of piece-goods, matches and cement and India supplied practically the
i whole of the cereals.
7. A. Iioyal Navy.—Visits of His Majesty's Ships and Royal Air Force
aircraft to Muscat arc given in Appendix A to this report.
B. Royal Air Force.—The Royal Air Force muintaihed their wireless station
at Muscat throughout the year. The stall consists of one non-commissioned
1 officer and three operators from No. 203 (Flying Boat) Squadron at Basra.
The station is in direct wireless communication with Shaibah and Ilabbaniyoh
in Iraq.
8. Aviation General.—Permission to land at Gwadur was accorded by life
Highness the Sultan to machines of the Dutch K. L. M. and Air France Com­
panies. No aircraft of the two companies alighted at that place during the
year.
The aerodrome at Gwadur is no longer maintained and supplies of fuel
are not now available there.
9. Foreign Interests.—1The French Consulate remained closed throughout
the year.
10. Missionary Work.—The Missionary work of the American South
Arabian Mission (The Dutch Reformed Church of the United States of America)
lias been carried on by the Rev. and Mrs. Dykstra. They left for their usual hot
weather visit to South India in June and returned in September. Dr. P. W.
Harrison, who first came to Muscat in 1913, remained in charge of the Medical
side of the Mission at their hospital at Matrah from 1st January to 19th April
1939, when he left Muscat for good. Dr. W. W. Thoms whoso family have for
long been associated with the Mission at Muscat arrived on the 8th of November
and remained in charge of the Mission Hospital to the end of the year.
The Mission have continued to make weekly visits to Birkah where they
have, with the Sultan’s permission, constructed quarters and Dr. ’Thoms lias
started a weekly surgery there on Thursday.
11. Slave Trade.—During the year 53 slaves applied for manumission cer­
tificates and 37 slaves were manumitted. Of the 53 applicants 36 were cap­
tured slaves (of whom 28 were manumitted) and the remainder were domestic
slaves.
Reports were received in May that slaves were being brought from Iranian
Baluchistan and landed on the coast near Suwaiq. They were then said to be
taken into the interior to Baraimi and sold to buyers from Saudi Arabia. ’The
persons actively engaged in this work were said to be Iranian Baluchis, and the
area chosen to Inna the slaves that inhabited by the Ya’al Sa’ad ti'ibe. There
is little doubt that some slaves were brought over and that they were taken
inland. Hilal bin Hamad, the principal sheikh of that section of the Ya’al Sa’ad
in the neighbourhood of Suwaiq/ was undoubtedly involved with the Baluchi f
traders but to what extent is so far not clear. Representations were made to
the Sultan and measures were taken to put an ena to the trade. These mea­
sures have proved satisfactory and no further slave trading is^ taking place.
During the last six months of the vear no complaints were received nor were
written or personal representations made to the Political Agent on his frequent
tours through the Suwaiq area.
12. Weather.—The total rainfall during the year was 4*90 inches.
’i he lack of rain is already being seriously felt and the local' drinking water
Bupply has become unpleasantly salt.
The summer was mild without “ ghavbis ” (hot Westerly winds) of the '
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usual intensify and duration. The occurrence of a “ gharbi ” in October wa*
unexpected and unwelcome as it did considerable damage to the early vegetable