'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎534r] (43/73)

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35
the Muscat State flag \vas hoisted and a building occupied on shore for the
purpose.
Prior to this Sheikh Ali had been clearly informed that by his rebellions
conduct he had forfeited all claim to the previous generous terms offered to him
bv His Highness.
He was now warned that the establishment of the customs house at Aina
Vi as not the sole matter for consideration, but that any terms afforded to him
would be entirely dependent on his and his tribe’s future loyalty and good
behaviour.
Ha\ ing attained the main object of tbe operationsi, tbe expedition returned
to Muscat on the 10th March.
Dining the remainder of the^year, though no o\ 7 ert act has been committed
by Sheikh Ah or the Beni bu Ah, the former has continued to address most
unsatisfactory letters periodically to the Sultan and, and as his unconditional
loyalty is still open to suspicion, he has been paid none of his former allowances
to date.
Gwadur.—ln April Mr. Shaukat All, the Well-known Indian leader, took
it upon himself Without either invitation or permission from His Highness, to
visit Gwadur to establish peace between the Baluch community— i.e., the
Sultan’s subjects—and the Khoja community, Who are British subjects.
This unwarranted intrusion into his state affairs aroused considerable
indignation on the part of His Highness the Sultan. A modus vivendi between
the communities having already been established by the Sultan and the Political
Agent, Mr. Shaukat Ali’s visit was somewhat abortive and he took his depar
ture after being good enough to sdnd a congratulatory telegram to His Higtp
Hess. Further action Was therefore deemed unnecessary*
In June 1932, Esa, son of Dilmurad, the Baluch outlaw who had been
imprisoned and subsequently exiled in 1929, for his connection in the murder
case of Khoja Ghulam Ali, a British subject, returned to Gwadur.
On the urgent representation of the British Agent lie Was forced to quit
Gwadur territory.
On 17th November however this individual again arrived in Gwadur and
after passing the night in tbe town, on the morning of the 18th, committed a
murderous assault on Bana Ibrahim, a Khoja British subject.
Owing to the undoubted connivance of the Baluch element in the town and
the gross slackness of the Wali, Esa not onK managed to evade arrest, but
continued more or less openly in the town and its Vicinity foi thiee days after
the event.
His Highness the Sultan, early in December, deputed his uncle Saiyid Malik
and K. B. Ahmed Shubaily his private Secretary to proceed to Gwadur to con
duct a searching investigation.
At the close of the year the case Was still under investigation.
Except for the foregoing, and a few incidents of lesser import, the tran
quillity of His Highness’ State remained undisturbed throughout the year.
Amoim the latter category however allusion may be made to the follow
ing :—
(a)
(b)
(c)
In March Sheikh Hussan, the late Sheikh of Khasab, who had been
directed to reside in Muscat on his release from detention in
November 1931, was permitted to reside in Debai on parole.
He shortly afterwards broke his parole, and escaped to Khasab but
cmbseouenfly arrested and sent to Muscat by the Sneikh of
Uebai. He has since been deported to Gwadur.
In August a fracas occurred between the Bani Battah and Bani
Wahlh near Swakim, the latter tribe losing some Sheikhs cap-
Hired.
The Bani Battah withdrew to their homes before the State authorities
could intervene.
\ customs clerk in the employ of the State, and his wife were mnr-
A customs s tember. The offenders are known to he Omams
bntrepeated application to Sheikh Isa bin Saleh by the Sultan for
LoS.'tSFD