'File 35/64 III Minerals in Oman. Madrasai geologists' researches' [‎41v] (91/276)

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On s'est occupe, a Paris, de Taffaire de Koweit, certainement parce que le
gouvernement de Londres et lord Curzon n'y ont vu aucun inconvenient: au
contraire, personne n'a souffle mot de Texpedition a Sour que je vous signale
parce qu'elle aura des consequences tres importantes.
Notez cette coincidence : c'est precis^ment quand le vice-consulat frangaia
de Bushire a et6 sans titulaire que I'entete cheik Mbarek a ete mis a la raisoni
comme Tavait resolu lord Curzon.
M. Ottavi, vice-consul frangais a Mascate, est deplace, sinon disgracie, je
n'en sais rien, quand, apres deux insucces, le Perseus amene le sultan de
Mascate avec deux cents Arabes armes, a la conquete de la ricbe mine de
cbarbon dont il s'agit, et qui motivera roccupation plus ou moins avoude du
grand port.
Lord Curzon veut le cbarbon du Gbawr et le port de Kbawr-Jerama : il
les aura, sans meme que le continent s'en doute. En Angleterre on ne tient
pas, comme en France, 1'Arabic pour une quantite negligeable.
ELIAS X.
No. 136—52-41 & 42, dated Calcutta, the 15th January 1902,
Memo, by the Under-Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Revenue and
Agriculture.
Letter from the Director of the Geological Survey of India, j j i. xi. -n •
No, 1150, dated 13th December 1901, and enclosures. JcOrWardeCl 10 tile JcOreigQ
of lDdi9 ' Department for disposal.
No. 1150, dated Calcutta, the 13th December 1901.
From—C. L. Griesbach , Esq., C.I.E., F.G.S., Director of the Geological
Survey of India,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Revenue
and Agriculture.
I have the honour to forward herewith, in original, for the information of
the Government of India, Mr. R. D. Oldham's report of an examination of the
coal localities south of Sur in Oman, Arabia, and request that a copy of it may
be sent for record in this Department.
REPORT OF AN EXAMINATION OF THE COAL LOCALITIES SOUTH OF SUR
IN OMAN, ARABIA.
1. Embarking on board H. M. S. As &aye I left Karachi on 28th
October and reached Khor Jerama on 30th October. On 31st October I
was joined by Captain P. Z. Cox, His Majesty's Consul at Maskat, and on 1st
November we landed. After devoting a day to the measurement of a base line
and starting the topographical survey we left Khor Jerama on 3rd November.
Two long marches brought us to Musweh, the first of the localities at which
coal was known to exist. The five days from 5th to 9th November were
devoted to investigating this locality. On 10th November I visited the second
of the reported localities, Jebel Khami, and on 11th November we marched to
Migel, in the Eisao valley, the locality which was visited by Dr. von Krafft and
Captain Cox in May last. Three days proved sufficient for the investigation of
this locality, and on 15th November we left it, arriving at Suk Sur on 16th
November. Here I was detained till 21st November, when I embarked on
H. M. S. Perseus and reached Maskat the following day
2. Of the geology of the country traversed it is not necessary to say much,
as the opportunities for making observations other than those directly bearing
on the coal were small. The rocks seen on the route differ somewhat from
those noticed by Dr. von Krafft, the lower part of his section being only imper-"
lectly represented, while the open country between Khor Jerama and the
Musawi hills is composed of a much contorted series of rocks, of unknown age,