'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1936' [‎34r] (67/74)

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4. Trade and General. —This subject has already been dealt in Part I
of this Report.
5. Muscat and Matrah Improvement Scheme. —As mentioned in last
year's report, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at the request of the Sultan undertook
the execution of certain measures for the improvement of the towns of
Muscat and Matrah.
During the period under review, the filling and draining of the noto
rious Muscat "Pond" a pestilential swampy area of about two acres and
a prolific breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes were completed and a
number of trees planted therein.
The latest type fish and meat market and slaughter-houses well con
structed of stone and ferro-concrete were completed in both the towns of
Muscat and Matrah. The buildings were handed over to the State in
August but up to the end of the year no attempt had been made to use them
the curious reason given for which being that the Municipality in neither
town had sufficient funds to keep them clean. The Sultan's return is
awaited to make some suitable arrangement for this purpose.
6. Events in Oman. —Nothing of importance took place during the
year.
As reported last year, discontent continued to exist over the excessive
assessment made for the purposes of taxation on dry dates sent to Sur for
export to India.
At the beginning of the year, it was reported that Sheikh Mohammad
bin Abdullah, the Imam of Oman under pressure from the Hijriyin and
Hardh tribes had written to His Highness at Dhofar requesting him to
reduce the rate of Zakat at Sur to the level of other places in Oman, viz.,
5 per cent, on the value of the dates exported, instead of dollars per load
collected at the time. This rate amounted to over 20 per cent, of the ave
rage value of the produce delivered at Sur. Under the terms of the treaty
concluded between the Omanis and the Muscat Government in 1920 it was
agreed that the duty on dates brought down from the Oman for export
should not exceed 5 per cent, ad valorem. No satisfactory reply to this
communication is said to have been received.
As the Omanis saw that the Sultan was not taking any notice of their
complaints, this year they refused to send any of their dry dates to Sur and
were considering making an agreement with the Sheikh of the Bani-Bu-Ali
tribe whose district is called Ja'lan near Sur to open a new port in his
territory. At the same time Sheikh Hamad bin Sulaiman, son-in-law of
•Sheikh Isa bin Salih, the right-hand man of the Imam of Oman visited
Muscat in August to discuss the matter with the Sultan's Representative.
The latter after consulting the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. issued orders, in anticipa
tion of the Sultan's approval, reducing the rate to | dollar per load or
approximately 5 per cent, dd valorem. This action has settled a situation
which at one time threatened to become serious.
7. General Communications. —No change took place in the establish
ment of Cable and Wireless Limited.
Modern high speed instruments have been installed in the Cable Office
and the cables from Muscat to Karachi and Muscat to Bushire have been
"Duplexed". As a result of these improvements a considerable increase
in the speed of transmission of messages has been effected.
8. Muscat Infantry. —Captain A. C. Byard, British Army retired,
was Commandant throughout the year. The discipline and general effi
ciency of the Corps have been much improved under his controi.
R. P. WATTS, Major,
L Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Muscat.