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696. Ho also thought it desirable that quarters should bo provided for tho
Agency Establishment. In Foreign Departmtmout letter No. 1837-E. A., dated
20th October l'.'OO, tho Government of India- declined to sanction house-
ront for tho clerks of the Agency, by ronson of the pay of the establishment at
Maskat boing considerably higher than that of other Political Agencies. Cap­
tain Cox, however, urged that tin's high pay was not high enough to attract
suitable men for tho appointments at a place like Maskat. lie also required the
clerks for work as at I3ushireon Sundays and non-office hours and it was desir­
able thoreforo they should have residential quarters as near the Consulate as
possible. Accommodation was also required for tho proposed Telegraph Office
and quarters for tho Telegraph clerks.
697. Acting upon the Political Agent’s recommendation, the Government
of India sanctioned for these purposes :—
Rupees 50,000 for the purchase of the block of buildings belonging to
llatansi Purshotam, near the sea, which it was desirable should
not fall in tho hands of other foreigners except a small slice
unfit for occupation.
Rupees 15,000 for the purchase of a building belonging to'Mr. D’Mello,
Head Clerk (see Foreign Department letter to Major Cox,
No. 507-E. A., dated 15th March 1902).
698. The Government of India, Public
External A., August 1903, Nos. CS-7G.
Works Department, sanctioned—
Rupees 45,933 for building a new Surgeon’s house on the site pur­
chased.
Rupees 56,767 for constructing other buildings.
699. In March 190d tho Government of India sanctioned Rs. 26,600 for
the following purposes :—
External A., April 1004, Nos. 73*77.
Es.
Mr. D’Mello's premises ... • • • 12,000
Sea wall ... ... 2,500
A certain tenement 12,000
Total 26,600

(iv) Use by the Political Agent at Maskat of the Saltan’s steamers for short trips
on the Oman Coast, 1903.
700, In his letter No. 2215-E.A., dated 18th September 1903, Major Cox
enquired whether there would be any
Extorual A., September 1003, Nos. 69-90.
objection to bis making use of tho Sultan’s
steamer for short trips on the Oman Coast and if not whether lie might refund
to His Highness tho coal expended for such occasions. The proposal was
sanctioned by the Government of India (No. 2215-E.A., dated 18th September
1903) on the following conditions :—
(1) that no pressure is ever put upon the Sultan to lend the steamer;
(2' that use is not made of it when a ship of war is available, and
(3) that the loan of the steamer becomes only an occasional, not a
frequent or habitual practice.