‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1887-88’ [‎61r] (126/531)

relations with tributary states and frontier affairs.
49
next year’s^
oft heState‘ a ‘'’
eil f ,e annually j
l P a,:,le of hml
esent ruler, °
'binary annual,
clearance of C!
cal Agent had s!
resided atKk
nditure on thi
ators were enr
Sanitary Comi
1 2,875 were s
oils against 167 ii
the previous year,
34 (Rs. 42,287 Imp®
idly feelings subsi
‘elations between
>es hostilities occ
>aihi tribe comn
attitude of iiide|
induce them to i?
enhanced the fc
Chiefs, that of St
son Nasir.
involving 851 pci
lere was thus a w
and property undei
persons tried, 707 1
i of convictions i
t of the Resident, i
isident held 5 enijt
> cases; -in one case
the remaining ca«
1‘ and removed tof
l 210 offenders, f
ig due to the fact:
Dnths for which tte
id by him in the fe
ie : 12 cases involi
offenders in the p»
Aden Jail was 2%
)ners 60 against 01
t, showing a dec#
There were dos
1887 - 88 .]
Chap. I.
POLITICAL-
The municipal revenue of Aden and Shekh Othmdn amounted to Rs. 1,42,210
against Rs. 1,19,510 in the preceding year, and the expenditure to Rs. 1,27,713 against
Rs. 1 28 225. The closing balance amounted to Rs. 50,217, against an opening balance ol
Rs 35 719. The increase of revenue was attributable to the receipts from local-tax, slaughter
houses and rent of land (including that devoted to salt works) and buildings having been
larger/ Considerable attention was again devoted to the improvement of the conservancy ol
the 6 Settlement, the sanitary condition of which was exceptionally good. 13,951 permanent
residents, mostly Mahomedans, were registered in Aden against 14,170 m the previous
year. At Shekh Othman the population, exclusive of passing visitors, was 6,607 on 1st
April 1887, against 6,228 on 31st December 1885. 17,392 tons of salt were produced during
the year against 2,325 in the previous year.
Quarantine was enforced against arrivals from Bombay from 24th August to 4th
November 1887 ; against arrivals from Akyab from 27th May to 10th June 1887; against
arrivals from Tonquin from 9th May to 6th November 1887; and against arrivals from
Rano-oon from 17th March till the end of the year, when the quarantine had not been raised.
Sanction was given by Government to the conversion of the flat “ Hyderabad ;; into a
lazaretto for Europeans, at a cost of Rs. 7,336. When the conversion has been made, Flint
Island will be used as a quarantine station for natives only.
The general health was good, and there was no epidemic. The number of persons
treated at the different hospitals and dispensaries was as follows : *
Tributary States,
Aden and the Somali
Coast,
Municipal.
Quarantine,
Vital Statistics and
Medical Relief.
Hospital or Dispensary.
In-patients.
Out-patients.
European General Hospital...
Civil Hospital, Crater
Prince of Wales Dispensary
Shekh Othman Dispensary ...
Perim Coal Company’s Hospital
Perim Fort Hospital
108
448
1
32
26
3
2,714
*1,771
6,560
2,546
3
3
950 primary vaccinations and 5 re-vaccinations were performed at Aden, all of which
were successful. 607 vaccine operations were performed at Shekh Othman, of which 568
were successful; and 43 at Lahej, of which 36 were successful. The number of births regis
tered at Aden and Shekh Othman was 733, and that of deaths 1,740, against 546 and 1,189
respectively in 1886-87. This would seem to point to an unsatisfactory condition of public
health • but out of the 1,740 deaths, no less than 852 deaths were of young children. It is
to be noted that the population of Shekh Othman has increased by about 3,000 persons.
There was, however, increased mortality from fever.
The daily average attendance in the English school was 85 against 79 in the previous Education,
year. The attendance at the 3 vernacular schools rose from 204 to 249. The schools
were examined by Major Sealy in December 1887, and the result was reported to be satis
factory An East India Company trading post. . There were 32 private and indigenous schools teaching 836 boys and 156 girls. The
total amount spent on education was Rs. 4,£>26 against Rs. 4,457 in 1886-87. Of this amount
Rs. 2,933 were contributed by Government and Rs. 1,593 by the Municipality. The
Government grant-in-aid to private schools amounted to Rs. 245.
THE SOMALI COAST.
Gross Revenue, Rs. 1,87,941.
The Somali country is an elbow of land lying between the Equator and the twelfth Physical features
decree of north latitude. It extends no further west than the forty-third parallel of
longitude. The actual boundaries are the sea on two sides and the river Juba. A double
range of mountains runs parallel to the sea coast. They average from four to six thousand
feet in height. The geographical features of the country present a great degree of variety
from sandy stony tracts in which pasturage is scarce, to hilly country clothed with gum,
myrrh, and frankincense trees, and a kind of aloe plant from which good cordage is manu-
* factored. Very little is known of the interior. The country owes its origin to an up
heaval at a not very remote period from the sea. Hot springs .are found in several places.
The drinking water is bad. The climate from October to April is cooled by sea breezes.
It is never very temperate, while during the dry season the heat is intense. The tribes
inhabiting the Somali Coast are the Darud Somali, the Ishak Somali, and the Habr Taljaala,
There are numerous sub-divisions.
The British Protectorate commences at Ras Jibuti and ends at Bandar Ziada. There Administration,
is a 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 Consul for the Somali Coast, who is subordinate to the Resident
at Aden. The coast is divided into two portions, Bulbar and Berbera to the south and
Zaila to the north. Each of these portions is under the charge of an Assistant Resident
who is subordinate to the Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. . The administration was during the year
carried on with zeal and tact.
There was a marked absence of serious crime during the year in the Somali Coast General remarks,
Protectorate. Friendly relations were maintained, with one regrettable exception, with the
neighbouring tribes, and as a consequence there was a considerable improvement in trade.
b 684—13