Page 58 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

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Part II—Chap. XIII.
(2) The house they gave to reside in was extremely bad, consisting of
three small rooms, eight foot square, with a space in front
covered with a single mat, and as it was shut in with two dead
walls opon at the ends only; two of the rooms were of no use,
having no windows.
(3) It being impossible for throe months in the year to live at Maskat,
they allowed a house at Barlca which was a mud building 25
feet square with an opon cajim shed on the top, nine feet high,
and flat roof, so that tho rain oamo through in every direction,
the lower part having no windows was only fit for lumber.
(4) The distauco from Barka to Maskat is only 50 milos; but there
being an ascent and the weather hot, the best horses fainted
under it. Tho accommodation on tho road was the shade of
a tree ; going to Burka was not much felt, as it is to a better
climate, but returning had in two instances in Captain Seton's
time and ono before, proved fatal to Europeans. Those with
him, 11 and 24 days after their return died of a fever and
inflammation in the bowels. Doctor Bogle had died of a disease
peculiar to the country, eruption all over the body, attended
with fever and other symptoms, as in small-pox, which turning
to large sores eat into tho body, and destroy the patient.
(5) The air of Maskat is such that Done escape illness, but in some it
attacks the spleen, in other tho liver, tho latter generally die, but
the first on a change of olimate, recover subject to relapse, again
on a return to Maskat.
It was therefore the practice of the Arabs to have offices at Maskat, where
they come, for four or five days, and return to the country again; the
Hindus, Persians, and Baluchi who could not go far into the country had
houses in tho little bays near the coves, to which they retired occasionally.
88. Under these circumstances Government would only have to regret
the lives of those they sent there, unless they put it, in their power, to live as
much in the style of the natives so far as the difference of habit and education
would admit of. In bis view permission should be given to build a house or
bungalow at Burka, and a double establishment for two houses should be allowed,
and six or seven horses and as many camels for travelling should be provided,
that he might be enabled to place relays to avoid exposures to the sun.
The emoluments of the Resident of Maskat were 670. Rupees a month
and the military pay and superior batta, without any establishment or expenses
whatever. This might be sufficient to live little better, than in a private
capacity, but could only by a most rigid economy be made to answer all
demands. It was not allowed to better himself by trade or any other emolument
whatever, and consequently if his health failed him, he must trust to chance
and constitution for a recovery, not having the means of relief by a change of
country and air, without finding himself in a state to begin world again with
a broken constitution.
89. The Bombay Government thereupon addressed the following letter to
the Governor-General in Council (20th March 1805):—
Our daily expectation of receiving accounts of tho reduction of Bhurtpoor, having led to
the detention hitherto o! the packet for the Gulph lias given occasion to Captain Seton s
laying before us the accompanying address on the subject of his situation there, the particulars
in which being we have no doubt well founded, it will afford us satisfaction to be favored
with the instructions of Your Excellency how far we may sanction the expenses that must
prove necessary for the several accommodation therein pointed out, the amount of which may
we presume bo (as far as Your Excellency may be pleased to sanction them) ohargeable to
Bengal in consideration to Muscat being a Residency for general purpose and not solely or
principally for the service of Bombay.
Boubit Castle;
The 20th March 1805