Coll 30/9(2) 'Admin. Reports of the Persian Gulf - 1945 -' [‎85r] (169/1148)

As before, the chief cause of Illness was malaria,
a total of 2409 patients being treated for this ailment alone.
Cerebel symptoms were obserred in some of these »as|s. On
ly a very small proportion of patients treated £*em malaria
had been Infected outside Muscat. The incidence of malaria
appears to be considerably higher in Mutrah than in the town
of Muscat.
Other prevalent diseases were ulcers, digestive
diseases, diseases of the eyes, malnutrition and venexal
diseases.
Unusual cases Included two of snake-bite from Rus
sel's vipers, and the treatment of three fishermen bitten
by sharks outside Muscat harbour.
Quarantine.
Muscat was free from epidemics during the year.
No quarantine measures were necessary in the case of stea
mers visiting Muscat. One case of small-pox was found on
a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. in April, but no subsequent cases occurred.
Extensive repairs to buildings at the quarantine
station at Haramil, which suffered considerable damage from
the heavy rains of the previous year, were undertaken by
the Muscat Government.
A permanent guard for the quarantine station was
appointed in May and shortly afterwards the Muscat Govern
ment appointed officials to examine all persons entering
Mutrah and Muscat either by overland routes or by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. .
III. POLITICAL SITUATION.
(a) Tribal
In the first three months of the year it seemed
likely that a dispute between the Muscat Government and
the Beni Ka'ab supported by the Beni Qltab and Awamlr tribes,
might assume serious proportions. The cause of the dis
pute was an unfortunate decision to appoint Salyld Moham
med bln Hilal as Wall of Shlnas. This wall had previously
been involved in a quarrel with the Beni Ka'ab and had,
without reference to the Muscat Government, attempted its
settlement by ruthlessness. His actions, which culminated
in the execution of one of the tribesmen by firing him from
the mouth of a cannon, had necessitated his immediate removal;
but they had not been forgotten by the Beni Ka'ab. On be
ing re-posted to Shinas, the dispute broke out again and on
this occasion the Chief Wall, with the concurrence of the
Minister for External Affairs, decided to support Salyld
Mohammed. Keeping well in the background himself, the
Chief Wall despatched arms, ammunition and money to Shinas,
but when it became evident that the tribesmen were not to
be Intimidated by such a move, he hastily reversed his at
titude and Saiyld Mohammed was once again removed from his
post. With the appointment of a new Wall, conditions at
Shinas returned to normal.
Later in the year, news that the Imam was seriously
ill led to developments which are likely to have important
consequences in the future. His Highness has always regarded
the death of the Imam as the moment for him to attempt to
¥
restore