"تقرير إداري عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط لسنة ١٨٩٦-١٨٩٧ (إدارة الخارجية رقم تسلسلي ٩٢). كلكتا: ونشر بمعرفة مكتب ملاحظ المطبعة الحكومية في الهند (كلكتا)، ١٨٩٧ وملاحق بالتقرير الإداري عن المقيمية السياسية بالخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط لسنة ١٨٩٦-١٨٩٧" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٣] (٣١/١٣)

KESIDENCT AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE TEAR 1896-97
Several minor slave transactions of a local and unimportant character
came to light. In one of these a small party of Baluch slaves, for the most
part hoys, who had probably been kidnapped, were shipped at Wadam on the
Batineh Coast, a place of evil repute in this connection—for Lingah. An
adult of the party there made his escape, and the remainder were carried to
Dehay, where two more after escaping fell into the hands of the Arabs of
Khan, a dependency of Shargah. These were recovered and sent to Maskat,
where on the clue furnished by Feroz's evidence proceedings were taken result
ing in the conviction of a large number of slave dealers. An attempt at
re-enslavement of a liberated slave on the Persian coast was reported, he was
recovered after some months at Lingah, and handed over to the Commander of
H. M. S, Sphinx.
Six slaves who, after effecting their escape from Shargah, had managed to
reach the Telegraph Station at Jask, were brought to Bushire, and being there
liberated were conveyed to Maskat at their own desire.
A more serious case was the kidnapping of 17 men on the South Arabian
Coast, by an armed party of the Yal Saad, who carried them by boat to the
Batineh Coast, and thence sent them by land to the Pirate Coast or the in
terior. This act was committed in February 1896, but the facts did not come
to light till the beginning of the year under report, on the information of one
of the slaves who had escaped. The Sheikh of the Yal Saad who was directly
implicated was imprisoned by the Sultan, and later died in confinement. Only
one other of the party was traced in the possession of the Bedouin, and as it
was impossible to obtain his freedom without ransom, the disbursement of the
sum required was sanctioned by Government.
11.—PIRACY.
Some piracies were committed by the Beni Hajar robber tribe in Bahrein
waters.
Vigorous action for the suppression of piracy at the mouth of the Shat-el*
Arab was pressed on the Turkish and Persian authorities jointly by the
British Consular authorities at Busreh and Mohammerah at the urgent instance
of the British Officers, both sides, while still maintaining each that the liabi
lity rested on the other, agreed to adopt measures of prevention, by appointing
posts along the river, where vessels should anchor at night under adequate
protection, and by arranging for the nightly patrol of the river by armed boats.
A visit of inspection to certain of these posts was made by the British Consuls,
in company with Sheikh Mizzal, the Perso-Arab Governor of Mohammerah.
The effect of these measures was very satisfactory, and the British Indian
boats visiting the river for their usual cargo of dates in autumn enjoyed
immunity from the danger to which they had previously been exposed.
In April of 1896 a bold piracy was committed on a boat from Koweit, off
the mouth of the river, the Nakhuda being killed, two traders wounded, and
some 3,000 rupees worth of goods and cash being plundered.
13.—ROYAL NAVY.
H. M. S. Lapwing was on the Persian Gulf station at the opening of
the year under report, and was relieved in May by H. M. S. Sphinx,
In the autumn H. M. S. Lapwing was stationed in the Shat-el-Arab,
and was later relieved by H. M. S. Redbreast, which finally left the Gulf
at the close of the official year.
13.—OFFICIAL CHANGES.
There was no change in the personnel of the Residency during the
year.