Page 560 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

18 ADMINISTRATION RKTOBT ON THE PER8IAN GULF POLITICAL

worthy of the name occurred in any of the quarantine stations throughout the
epidemic.
Fires occurred, as usual, now and then during the hot weather in Maakat
and Mattrah, in the most severe of which on 30th May at Mattrah some 400
houses were burnt, three lives were lost, and property to the value of twenty
thousand dollars was destroyed.
On 25th October a gunpowder explosion took placo at Mattrah in wliich
five men were killed and 13 injured.
3. General—The Customs administration has been carried on during the
Custom*
year without any change in the methods adopted when His Highness took the
management into bis own hands. No complaint of any importance has been
received from British subjects in this connection, and the treatment of
merchants generally is satisfactory, but from a financial point of view there
is Btill much to be desired in the conduct of affairs.
The Customs office is frequently in debt to merchants owing to sudden
demands being made upon it by His Highness which have to be met by
requesting merchants who are expecting consignments, to pay something
in advance. This state of things is not likely to improve, particularly
as a decrease in the demand for arms and ammunition has already made its
appearance.
The Customs revenue at Soor shews no increase. The reasons for the
unsatisfactory position at this town have frequently been touched upon in
previous reports; it is hoped that the settlement of the French Flag difficulty,
which happily is shortly to be expected, will to a large extent remove the
deadlock which it is estimated causes a loss of revenue to the Local Government
of no less than sixty thousand dollars per annum.
The Customs arrangements at Gwadqr have been fairly satisfactory
throughout the year.
Arms traffic. 4. It will be remarked that there has been an enormous increase in this
branch of trade during the year and large profits have been m ide chiefly by
certain foreign firms. It is supposed that the large majority of arms sold
during the past year were exported to Koweit, small quantities having
probably been smuggled into Persia and the Mekran Coast. The demand
now shows signs of decreasing and the figures for next year will probably be
very low.
Bain. 5. Good rain has fallen in Oman during the past cold weather, and it is
hoped that the drought of the last few years has come to an end.
Government 6. The new quarters for the Agency Surgeon, and Telegraph and Consular
Buildings.
clerks have been completed and the small house situated between the latter and
the Customs premises has been acquired by Government during the past year.
The sea wall in front of the Consulate has been extended to the Customs wharf,
whereby adequate protection against heavy seas has been given to the whole
premises, and a certain amount of land has been reclaimed. The premises of
Mr. J. 8. de Mello consisting of his own bouse, and the lines of the Sepoy
Guard attached to the Political Agency have also been purchased.
SUve Trade. Owing to His Majesty’s ships having been employed throughout the je&r
on other duties no capture of slave dhows was effected. It is believed that the
trade formerly carried on between Oman and the neighbourhood of Zanzibar
has received a check, no doubt owing in a great measure to the salutary lessons
which have recently been administered to oersOns participating therein. With
regard to the large capture of slave traders made by the Portuguese cruiser
San Bafael in March 1902, news was received by the Political Ageut 'in
July last for communication to His Highness the 8ultan, to the effeot that the
culprits had been sentenced by the Protuguese Courts to 25 years imprwon-
xnent. Hia Highness received this information with composure, and asked tw
his thanks might be expressed to Government for the trouble they had taken
in making enquiries.
No less than 106 slaves took refuse at the Political Agency during the
year. Of these six were found not to be entitled to freedom, four left »»
Agency permises while their cases were still under discuaJion* nnd