'File 11/12 VII Muscat Intelligence Summary' [‎32r] (63/70)

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11. I.!r, ’A. Ammonah,one of the new Palestinian teachers, .\vho also
performs the duties of Piysical training instructor at the Saij^iyah
School has been told not to wear shorts for this purpose. He must
either v/ear lonp trousers or Arab dress £
12. It is understood that v/hen the new Headmaster arrived in
Muscat he sent a telegram to the Sultan informing him of his arrival
and his readiness to commence duty. He was rather discouraged to
receive no reply.
13. The 28,000 ton tanker’’Pprnaaatlo"of Oslo called at Muscat on
the 1 5th January to land tv/o Indian nationals whom they had found
drifting on a Dhow’s water tank in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The two men are,
as far as is knov/n, the only survivors of a c .untry craft named Lakmi
Pasa Moosa, Owner Moosa, Captain Mopsa Juma, which left Porbandar a
little over a month previously. Jncountering a severe stom the dhovr
foundered, and all aboard, including the ^aptain and the C^wner, were
drowned, excepting these two, who drifted for eight days without food
or water, the tank being empty, before being picked up by the tanker.
Though somev/hat emaciated they recovered rapidly in the two days on
board, and were landed at T'uscat most ' enerously fitted out with warm
clothing and probably better shoes than they had ever possessed in
their lives. They are being repatriated to Bombay, The tanker, inciden-
tally # was built in Ingland a year ago and is about the second largest
in the world. The Chief Officer remarked that they were very satisfied
with it.
14. Chicken pox, first appearing in Muscat before Christmas, has
now developed in epidemic form in both 1 'uscat and Matrah. There have
been tv/o or three fatalities among very young children. The Consulate
Surgeon has advised the Ifascat Government to close their school and to
forbid gatherings of children for some days.
TRIBAL.
15. Reference paragraphs 188 to 130 of 1950.
It is reported that the Imam has ordered three hundred men
of Yal > 7 ahibah and a hundred of El Kubus to go to Dhahirah to put a
stop to the kidnapping and selling of slaves. The force vd.ll be upder
two leaders named Said bin Hamed, Mali of Avabi, which is between Nakhl
and Rostaq, and Safyan bin ' ohammed bin Abdullah al Amiri, The Imam
has also instructed Mohammed bin Salim bin Zahir El Ruqaishi, ali of
Ibri, Adam and Izki to assist them, and to stay in Ibri and bring to
book any one under suspicion of kidnapping, whether A.mir bin Saleh Waled
al Hatawa oir the bani Qitab or anyone else. Should they fail in this
attempt he is said to be contemplating going after the culprits himself,
TOUR S - _ Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Surgeon.
16. On the 30th and 31st Decp^M«r the Assistant Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Surgeon and
First Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. of this ConsiO at- ■ ^nt ou. on a. tour of Sib, Ghala and
Boshar, with the concurrence of the Musew Government.
17. On their arrival at Sib they called on the Mali, Saiyid
Mohammed bin Ahmud, and ■ ave him their letter of introduction from
the Muscat Gcv^rnmont, The Mali was very glad to meet the Doctor as
he was himself suffering from eye trouble. He also showed considerable
interest in the war in Korea. On the subject of the recent kidnapping
he stated that Sib was too strong a place for the raiders to tackle.
He thought that many of the bedouins of Oman were responsible and
not only