File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎77r] (168/494)

Mekran.
Arms Traffic .—Nine rifles and some ammunition are reported to have
been landed between Sadaich and Hapch by Qadar Sukah of Tanuch.
Slave Traffic .—It is reported that five slaves have been shipped for sale
by one Abdook Soon of Lashar on the 20fch January for an unknown
destination.
Mirza Hassan Khan, a follower of Mir Hoti of Lashar, was reported on
the 25th January to have arrived at Rapch with 13 slaves and to be
arranging to ship them from a port in the vicinity.
ARABIA.
Muscat.
Saiyid Mohamed bin Faisal, brother of His Highness the Sultan, has died
at Dhofar.
Saiyid Nadir, President of the Council of Ministers, with Captain Alban,
the Financial Adviser, the Director-General of Customs and a detachment
of 50 men of the Muscat Infantry left for Sohar on the 28th December to
carry out certain improvements in financial and administrative affairs there.
The party returned on the 17th January after effecting economy in expendi
ture to the extent of Rs. 1,500 per mensem. It is said that Saiyid Hamad
(the Sultan’s brother), Wali of Sohar, has resented this action. It is to be
hoped that the Sultan will remove Saiyid Hamad from the Governorship as
he is oppressive and tyrannical, besides misappropriating to his own use the
revenue and customs receipts.
Shaikh Isa bin Saleh has protested to 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. against the impo
sition of a new tax at Mattrah, which he contends is an infringement of the
Treaty between the Muscat Government and the Omanis which provided only
for a 5 per cent. duty.
He has also requested permission to import 16 cases of Martini-Henry,
and four cases of Mauser cartridges.
It is reported that the Muscat Government intend to establish a customs
post at Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kowr beyond Sohar in order to stop the smuggling of merchan
dise into the interior of Oman from that direction.
Bahrain.
Mr. De Grenier, Director of Customs designate, Bahrain, arrived on the
13th January and assumed charge almost immediately owing to the illness of
Mr. Bower who just had time to put Mr. De Grenier au fait with the rates
before he went sick.
On the night of the 7th January, an armed party, believed to have been
headed by Shaikhs Salman and Ibrahim bin Khalid, nephews of Shaikh Isa,
attacked the island of Sitrah and killed three men and one woman and
wounded several people. Owdng to the absence of Shaikh Hamad on a
hawking trip to Lingah, action was delayed and the perpetrators, Shaikhs
Salman and Ibrahim, fled to the mainland. Shaikh Hamad returned on the
13th and arrested three followers accused of being concerned in the outrages.
He held a trial later of the accused—both apprehended and absconded—and
passed sentences ranging from the death penalty down to six months’
imprisonment.
Kuwait.
The Conference .—Subih Bey Nishat, Minister of Communications and
Works, Iraq, accompanied by Shaikh Ajil Al-Yawar of the Shammar, and
his Secretary, returned to Iraq on a flying visit on the 27th December.