"تقارير إداري عن الخليج الفارسي لعام ١٩٣٢‎" [ظ‎‎٥‎٧‎٠] (٧٢/٤٤)

Hie suspects to be handed over to justice, in accordance with the
Muscat-Oman Agreement of 1923, has failed to elicit anything but
evasive replies and vague counter charges of breaches ot the
Treaty.
(d) In November His Highness convened the leaders of the Kumazaran
and Shihuh tribes to appoint, by election, a Sheikh for the Dibbali
area. By a majority of votes Zaid bin Sinan was elected, thus
settling a problem on which many previous attempts had proved
unsuccessful.
Events in Oman .—There were no events of outstanding importance during
the year.
’Various minor inter-tribal squabbles have been reported from time to time
and the relations between the Imam and the Sheikh of Jabal Akhdar appear to
continue strained.
Trade and General.-—T\\Q. world wide depression in trade has had serious
repercussions in Muscat and many local Muscat! merchants and petty traders
have been ruined.
Lack of rain has had an adverse effect in both the quality and quantity of
dates exported, whilst financial depression in both European and Eastern
markets has more or less eliminated the source of income derived from the
export of fish manure.
The tightness of money has driven many more litigants to the local Courts
than in previous years.
The increase in the State revenues, despite adverse circumstances, is attri
butable to the general tightening up of the methods of revenue collection and
the drastic reduction of overhead charges.
Muscat Infantry —Command of the Muscat Infantry has remained through
out the year in the hands of Captain R. Gr. Alban in addition to his other duties.
The numbers of the Corps have now been brought up to normal strength,
i.e., 150 but, in conformity with the general scheme of economy certain reduc
tions in pay and the number of non-commissioned officers has been effected.
The Corps continued to find the Agency Guard.
C. E. U. BREMNER, Major,
Political Agent and II. B. M.'s Consul, Muscat.