'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎186v] (377/488)

4*
106 PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ADMINISTRATION REPORT
imports, the orders of His Highness the Sultan and the Shaikh of Kuwait
account for the larger portion.
In the month of August, orders were received by 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. and
the Erench Consul from their respective Governments directing that an
inventory of all Erench arms in private warehouses and the State Warehouse
should be taken, that the arms contained in the private warehouses should be
locked up therein and placed under the official seals of both Consuls. These
instructions were carried out and stocks to the approximate value of £59,624
according to the French estimate and £42,937 according to the British estimate
were inventoried and placed under seal. The result of these measures was to
withdraw from circulation, so to speak, ajrms to the value of £33,000 or over.
The Trench merchants announce that the negotiations regarding compensation
for these stocks withdrawn have reached a successful conclusion, but no official
corroboration of this statement has been received.
In the month of October, the ill-considered export from the State Ware
house of a large consignment of cartridges to the Bani Bu Ali tribe at Sur,
before the usual shipping documents had been received and in defiance of the
regulations, led to serious consequences for the chief delinquent, as in the
month of December, His Highness the Sultan consented, after pressure, to the
deportation and banishment of Ali Musa Khan the notorious Baluch arms
trader, for a period of five years. The consignment of cartridges alluded to was
his property and there was no doubt that it w as at his instigation that His
Highness had consented to give peremptory directions to his Superintendent to
allow this flagrant breach of the regulations. The prompt and stern remons
trances of the Political Eesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , who was then at Maskat,
led to the immediate recall and re-deposit in the Warehouse of the cartridges
in respect of which the breach of regulations had been committed, and in view
of the prompt reparation made by His Highness Saiyid Taimur, the Govern
ment of India were pleased to overlook his conduct and that of the
Superintendent who, it is only fair to say, had done his best to withstand the
pressure put upon him, but it was insisted that an example should be made
of the chief offender.
The banishment of this notorious arms trader has undoubtedly served to
inspire all arms traders with a wholesome respect for the regulations of the State
Warehouse and transactions with the Warehouse have practically ceased since
his departure. It seems certain that the returns of the Maskat arms traffic will
show an even greater diminution in the coming year and that the importance
of Maskat as a distributing centre for this traffic will disappear.
A comparative statement of prices for 1912-13 is attached. It naturally
shows an enormous increase in the price of all goods of this description, but the
figures are to this extent fallacious that, with the Warehouse Regulations, it
would be difficult to find buyers, and a seller who based his estimates on these
prices, would undoubtedly, be disappointed. Buyers, on the contrary, would
have to submit to these extortionate prices.
The public health has been, on the whole, good. In the month of December
13 w tt uv, xr ^ i a n r. there was an outbreak of small-pox in
Health, Hospital and Quarantine. The AgeIlcy Hospital was open
for the public and the number of patients treated during the 12 months is
6,017, the daily average being 40*28.
The quarantine arrangements under the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Surgeon have worked
well during the year.
Two pilgrim ships called at Maskat during the year. Arrangements on
. . board the ships were found satisfactoiy
and therefore no trouble was experienced.
His Highness' Customs management remained in the hands of Abdul
r AjA- Karim up to the 3rd of December. On
Customs and Landing. ^ Karim WM
charged with violating the Maskat Arms Warehouse rules and, being
a British subject, w r as sentenced by 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. to undergo 6 mon s
rigorous imprisonment. Erom the 4th till the end of the year the manage
ment of the Customs was in the hands of Salim Bin Abdulla al K-aimn,