'File 4/4 Muscat Administration Reports and related correspondence' [‎12r] (23/712)

olerk of His Highness; Haaian.an Arab subject and en®loy^ at
the British post oflioe and Muhammad Kathurl.who was the late
partner of the ex landing contractor, Abdul ®adlr,a:id enjoys
an evil reputation. These appointments are a clear departure
from time honoured custom in Muscat whereby Importers,of whom
7S*' are British In 'ian subjects .appoint their own agent subject
to His -Ughness‘s approval. But British subjects, consignees,
have only themselves to thank for the loss of this privilege.
as they are hopelessly divided among themselves and have only
one object in view the cutting down of landing rates. As soon
as the natural result follows.badly paid employes and barefaced
theft,they are full of complaint but cannot unite to put au
end to the unsatisfactory rtate of affairs. At present then*
is, so far as the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. is aware, no landing contract
of any kind but there has been a marked diminution of oomp la lilts
and it is difficult to imagine any arrangement that could be
worse than f^/t of Abdul Qadir.
PTAVS TRAP/. Puring the year linger report 48 applications
were received from s<(laves for freedom of whom 71 were from
Makran -and 17 from Zanzibar. Of the 48 applicants 24 were
freed/and manumission granted. Pix more slaves whose cases
were pending during 1910 were also freed during the year.
ROYAL FAVY. T Ii8 Fxoellency the haval Commander-i:.-Chief paid
two' visits during the year to Muscat. On the lirst occasion
i:„ the month of January official visits were exchanged between
MJs highness and His Excellency.
His Excellency arrived again on the Frd ^fey but id not
lan^ owing to quarantine and left after a day’s stay.
All the other ships of the East Indies Squadron have
been constantly in and out of the port in oonr.eotion with the
arms treffic operations.
FOITMcft r AVY. Ho foreign man of war visited Muscat during the
year under report.