"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎٢‎٣‎٧] (٦١٦/٤٧٩)

58
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
Monsieur Charles Lecoutour held the post of French Consul from
January 1st till September 8th, when he was relieved by Monsieur a
Jeannier. M. Lecoutour, accompanied by his Dragoman Abdul Aziz left
for Sur on May 4th, and returned on May 23rd.
Signor Umberto Omar, the Italian Agent referred to in last year's report
arrived in Maskat on March 4th for the purpose of collecting information
regarding the trade in arms between Maskat and Italian Somaliland. He
resided in Maskat continuously during the remainder of the year.
His Majesty's ship " Hyacinth " with His Excellency Rear-Admiral
Rovai Naw Slade ' Naval Commander-in-CWef on
board, visited Maskat on May 3rd.
The " Fox," the " Perseus," the " Sphinx," the " Lapwing " and the " Red
breast " visited Maskat on various occasions on duty.
Foreign ship, of War. „ The French cruiser " Bruix " arrived
from Karachi on July 1st and left on
July 3rd.
The Italian cruiser " Elba " arrived on October 12th and left on October
15th.
The Political Agent and the Agency Surgeon went on tour to Sib, by
Tourg sea, in the latter part of March. The
Agency Surgeon remained there for
some weeks and opened a temporary dispensary. The Political Agent re
mained four days and returned to Mutrah by land. On April 5th the Politi
cal Agent again went to Sib, by sea, and thence travelled by land with Seyyid
Nadir to Beyt-el-Felej, Nakhl, Halban, Semayil, Ghobar and Bosher return
ing to Mutrah on April 10th.
On April 14th the Political Agent went to Sur in H- M. S. " Redbreast "
and returned to Maskat on April 16th.
The Political Agent left Maskat for Karachi on June 2nd, and returned
to Maskat on August 2nd. The Agency Surgeon left Maskat for Karachi
on September 15th and returned on October 11th.
The Political Agent and the Agency Surgeon went to Sur and Khor
Jarama in His Highness' yacht on October 21st and returned to Maskat on
October 23rd.
During the year 1909, 34 slaves applied to be freed. Of these 20 were
Slave Trade. Mekranis and 14 Africans. Sixteen
. . . Mekranis and 12 Africans were granted
manumission certificates and the remaining 4 Mekranis and 2 Africans either
proved not to be entitled to freedom or went back to their masters of their
own accord. Six persons applied for assistance in recovering their relatives
irom slavery. The efforts made were successful in five cases-
Medical Work. The hospital has again been largely utilised during the
Medical work, public health and quarantine. year - T^ 6 neW P atieilt S totalled
-p. . . , 5,570. The in-patients numbered 124.
fomed ma ^ 0r ec ^ operations and 150 minor operations were per-
The new hospital now in course of construction should, when it is opened,
^ ve A a g rea t impetus to medical work in Oman as it will then be possible for
tne Agency burgeon to undertake surgical operations under favourable condi
tions and to carry on laboratory work.
Public Health. There have been no special epidemics in Oman. Malarial
tever was very prevalent during the year in the towns of Maskat and Mutrah
and m Oman generally. Few residents of these towns escaped with less than
one or two attacks during the course of a year. Europeans and the natives of
naia who live m Maskat suffer severely. All the staff of the Agency have
nad attacks during the past year. Three incumbents of the post of Agency
Dragoman were forced to leave Maskat owing to recurring attacks of malaria.
Quarantine. —The Agency Surgeon as in former vears has directed the
quarantine arrangements on behalf of His Highness the Sultan. The work
nas been carried on smoothly and satisfactorily. One case of plague was