مجموعة ٣٠/١١٤ "تقارير إجراءات السُفُن البريطانية." [و‎‎٥‎٧‎٦] (١٢٠٣/١١٥١)

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CONFIDENTIAL.
NO. 102.
Sir,
H.MS. FOWEY.
at Duhat Haffah.
15th Decemher, 1954,
5. The information contained in Express Letters
No f s C./285 and C.286 from Political Agent, Muscat, was
not available until Wednesday, 12th December.
6. In view of the fact that the Badans
concerned were not returning immediately from Nakran to
the Batineh and that, in the Political Agent f s opinion,
the traffic, in addition to being desultory, was likely
to cease almost entirely during 1 Hamadan f , I decided to
remain at Muscat until arrival of T Down T Mail Steamer
on Friday, 14th December.
9.
I had no means of ascertaining that
Shinas was populated chiefly by Baluchis, but it is
certainly suspicious that I should be told that Baluchi
dhows have not recently called there, when this must
obviously be an untruth.
10. On 10th December, I called at Dibah to
embark three male slaves who, 1 was informed by the
Commanding Officer, H.M.S. BlDEFOiiD, naa escape a from
Debai and were desirous of being taken to Muscat for
manumission.
11. The Sheikh f s representative called on me on
mv arrival and brought off two of the # slayes. # He said lie
had warned the third slave to remain in “Dhe vicinity of
Dibah, in order to be immediately available in the event
of a sloop arriving, but the man had apparently gone to
a neighbouring village. 1 waited for two hours, but the
slave did not appear. The remaining two were hanaed over
to the Political"Agent at Muscat on 11th December.
12. With regard to Habalain. on a previous visit
of FOWEY, the natives werofrresented with food and old
clothes. I consider this practice should be deprecated, as
it undoubtedly led to continued and vociferous demands for
a repetition of these gifts. The consequent uproar alongside
the ship throughout the stay marred the pleasure of our visit.
13. The Sheikh did not trouble to come off for
three days, and, when he did, it transpired that he had not
done so from motives of courtesy, but to beg for food and/or
presents. The natives appeared well nurtured and as
well clothed as most, and"the poverty, if it exists, is
possibly due to an inherent indolence, for, as aloeady
reported, they preferred begging to fishing.
I have, etc.
(Sgd.) NEVILLE HAEVEY.
The Senior officer, p.G.. COfcMANDER IN COMAND.
The Senior Naval Officer,
Persian Gulf.
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