"الملف 35/134 III (A 54) صور: أمراء جعلان". [و‎‎٢‎٨] (٤٢٦/٦٩)

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if energetic eteps were taken by the Muscat
authorities to improve the cuetoms administration and
put an end to the dishonesty that prerails there
substantially larger sums could be collected. I am
bringing the state of affairs there to the notice
of the Political Agent and am directing him to suggest
to the State authorities that the present Director
of Customs should be replaced by an outsider who has
no connection with Sur and that, if necessary, a few
additional guards should be provided. The State
authorities will undoubtedly have to proceed somewhat
tactfully at first since they have allowed this state
of affairs to prevail for many years and a sudden
tightening up would doubtless produce widespread
resentment on the part of the local inhabitants, but
if the situation is properly handled I see no reason
why there should not be a gradual but steady increase
in the Sur customs within the next few years.
12. It will thus be seen that the Bani Bu Ali
have abandoned their claim to independence. Secondly
efforts are now being made to put an end to the blood
feud which has prevailed for some years among the
Jennebeh; if the efforts are successful the power of
the Bani Bu Ali on the coast will be definitely
weakened. finally 1 think it should be possible for
the Muscat authorities themselves to increase the
Sur revenues by a general iagprovement of the customs
administration without any action on our part other
possibly than the occasional visit of a man-of-war