'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎108r] (222/396)

m
FOR THE YEAH 1917. 43
There has been some trouble at Khaburah. owing to the fact that the Wall
had been charging illegal dues and bad misappropriated money which he had
received on behalf of British subjects. The Sultan has righted the complaints
for the moment and, should they recur, application will be made for the Wali
to be removed. His Highness considers him one of his best men.
The outstanding question of His Highness' administration is his indebted-
uess, which amounts ( to at least 5 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . iSaiyid Taimur keeps no
accounts and, as his receipts and expenditure are never balanced, he has no
idea of what he is spending. Thus his debts increase steadily and, unless some
reforms are made, bankruptcy is the inevitable result; indeed, the terms upon
which he is now borrowing show that such a condition cannot be far cff. His
cheques are not accepted unless drawn upon or guaranteed by the Customs
and they are usually only accepted at a discount of 40 per cent, on their face
value. |
Muhammad Puad, a Turk, who was employed by His Highness in the | |
training of his Nizam and who had for some years been objected to, was dis
missed on the demand of 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. . After failing to get permission
to remain at Basrah or proceei to Baghdad he was, on his return to Karachi,
arrested and interned.
Similarly, one Muhammad Tahnoon, His Highness' Agent at Lingah, had
heen for some years the subject of adverse comment and of representations to
His Highness. At the request of th^, 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. he was dismissed and
replaced by Khwaja Ahmad bin Yusuf who was in good repute with the
Vice-Consul at Lingah.
The Customs Department in Muscat and Muttra continued throughout
Cas f 0ms the year under the charge of the Snperin'
tendent, Mr. Muhammad Pieimoo, an
A^lia Khani Khoja, and a British Indian subject, who has for many years doi.e
business in Gwadur, where he has amassed some fortune. He has also been,
and is still, the farmer of the Gwadur Customs on behalf of His Highness.
Muhammad Reimoo has considerably improved the management of the
Customs Department in keeping definite records, but the system by which the
Customs is the Sultan's Bank still continues, with the result that the adminis-
jtration is steeped in debt and for the Spring and Monsoon months can only
Cpntinue by borrowing money from local merchants in order to pay the family
pensions and other charges with which it is burdened. The Customs Superin
tendent is able to make use of his position to benefit himself in his trade.
Under the Treaty of 1891 with Great Britain only 5 per cent, import tax
can be charged, but the charge is made in dollars at a fixed rate of exchange ;
consequently, with the appreciated value of the dollar, British subjects have
been paying*in actual fact as much as 8 per cent., though nominally paying but
5 per cent.
The Sur Customs, which should give big returns to His Highness, has been
brought under the Muscat control but, owing to the system of exemption, local
liaud and limited authority of the Sultan over that part of the country, a tithe
only of the revenues which he should receive is ever paid into his coffers.
The Customs at the smaller ports are still farmed.
No case of Arms Traffic of any import-
Arms Traffic. aiice wag re p 0rte( j (iuricg the year.
Small parcels of old pattern rifles, sniders and such like with mixed
packets of old ammunition were taken across to Mekran in sailing ships.
•
One Badan was caught carrying 7 rifles and some ammunition but they
^ere all of the type mentioned above.
459 British subjeds registered during the year of whom? reside in
Gw r adur.
British Subjects.
There was a considerable increase in litigation, partly owing to the bad
year in trade and tightness of the money market and partly to the greater
activity shown by the Sultan in disposing of cases.
'M i
M
Jl- M