'File 11/1 V Muscat Administration Reports and related correspondence' [‎2r] (3/62)

Goafidentlal.
British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
No. 2l/1/i>0.
G-, uXJK. 23 rd t'ehruary, 1930,
©
Angoai Mministratiye Report for the y ear 19*»9i B ritish Ageaqy a .dwadur>
Qh;;rfEe > I took over oha.rge fro: Mr# lashid .hm d s British -jent
on the 12th April 1949.
2. Staff . My staff consists of one Mtinshi, and two peons who a: e full
time employees, plus a caretaker, wateroarrier, gardener and sweeper who
are part time employees#
3. Tours. On two occasions X have had to visit our, which is abut
twelve miles North iast of Clwadur; onoe to render help to a stran .ed party
jelonging to the id \ i ? # led oy a if’u/lt. G# Lister ( « • '• attaci.ed
and once to settle a dispute there. On both the occasions I went with the
Administrator. The population of bur is a little over three hundred out
of witch one hundred are British subjects. It was on the second occasion
that I had a chance to meet some headmen who were British subjects and I
enquired after their welfare and answered questions put in oonnec ion witn
passports *nd certificates of registration etc. There are sever?il British
subjects at Pishkan, Negore and Phileri but I have not had the opportunity
to visit these places yet, the main reason being transport# /hen tr;.nsport
is available, and that too very seldom, it is far too expensive, and if I
may suggest it would be better if I was allowed a small truck or station
wagon to enable me to visit these places off-and-on so as to meet my subjects
and settle and disputes hat may be outstanding#
4. Brief 8uaL\ar.y of work done #
f a , . Court i.ork. An average of about three oases are receiveu in
the British >genolr daily, acme of than are not registered as they are
settled on he 9 pot* These cases are more or less abuse or family dispute,
and a compromise is reached# The cases have been divided into two ^i> Gi.vil
and (ii) Criminal. These consist of assault, abuse, land, faoiily and money
disputes 1 nd theft. One case of attenpted murder was registered during the
year, and one of theft which could really be c/l&aaed as Criminal. The first
one was disposed of by the Wali as the case was tr nsferred to ais court
because both the Plaintiff and the accused could not produce pr ,of of their
nationality. The J heft case was a British subject accusing a Sultaaian
subject, and the case was also referred to the /ali but t s h complainant
did not receive satisfaction from the Vali he forwarded th c se through me
to the Consul, who has sent the o^se v r ^o ‘he Suit? f but no n furthe
has been heard in th matter. Apart from these two o see I think Crime is
negligible and need no mention. The other oases are settled by means of
a Panchayat# This consists of five persons, two nominated ay the pliiAntuff,
t c by the defendant and one by the British Agent. In this way most cases 1
ure amicably settled out of court j but if ai^r difficulty arises . 1 - B. itish
A - nt is call:d in for advice. He hears he evidence f bot 1 o - ties then
asks the Poach for their vie ws, and if their views s em reasonable he agrees,
othenrice he su^jgeste s me o her we^y; but this seldom or ever happt :s. )cbt
is another common complaint which takes some time to settle. The ai. icul y
is that business and loans are done without uny z’eoeipts, and when a
c ^.plaint is made I ask them if they hove any receipts to produce they say
noj the accused is coiled in and he admits to the debt ou- always ezies
poverty and saps he is only aole to pay back in small ins al ents, to which
5 -h* rmrtv will not sorM* and I have to try and make him see reason
c L.i . thou >ower# 0 f S Hil fic • J ' te S a
District Judge have s no i been conferred und r the provisions of the Muscat
Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. .