"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٢] (٣٩٦/٢٩٠)

FOR THE TEAR m 8 .
49
Cases in the Barzah or Sultan's law court are tried by the following
brothers of His Highness 0
Saiyid Hamad bin Eaisal,
Saiyid Hamad bin Paisal,
Saivid Salim bin Faisal,
and occasionally by Saiyid Nadir who, however, like His Highness usually
takes cases in his own house.
His Highness left for Dhofar in his Yacht the " Nur-el-Bahr " on the
5th March returning to Muscat on the 10th April. His brother Saiyid Nadir
acted for him as usual during his absence.
His Highness' Yacht the " Nur-el-Bahr " was used a few times for
purposes of cargo and made runs between Bombay and Bandar Abbas or
Lingah theieby earning money for His Highness who, however, has not continued
that useful employment as he considers it is below his dignity to use his Yacht
for the purpose. As he rarely uses it for any other it is a mistake on his part
not to turn her into a commercial vessel and give up the name of Yacht.
As stated in last year's Administration Report in May 1917, the Political
Agent submitted a report embodying a scheme for the better Government of
Oman and for the provision of a force for the Sultan.
The question was again taken up in July 1918 and, after a conference in
fimla with Sir Percy Cox, the Political Eesident in the Persian Gulf and Sir
Hamilton Grant, Foreign Secretary, proposals were submitted by the Political
Agent by which in return for a loan of SJ lakhs the Sultan should agree to
make improvements in his administration by instituting a proper Customs
service under the control of an official selected by His Majesty's Government
by the -provision of proper Courts of justice, by the founding of schools on
modern lines and by the formation of a levy corps under the training of Nalive
officers lent from India, and under the supervision of a British officer.
These proposals were sanctioned by the Secretary of State, in December
1918, .and were agreed to by the Sultan after the close of the year.
The Acting Political Kesident in Baghdad then intervened and the matter
is at present under further consideration at Baghdad, and by the Government
of India while a suitable person to undertake the duties of Director of Customs
is being obtained.
The necessities of education have also been discussed and His Highness
has agreed to open a^ school on modern lines. It is as yet early to speak of
roads neither the administration nor the financial condition of Oman being on
present lines equal to such a strain.
After the close of the year also the Chiefs of Oman have, after many
abortive attempts, agreed to meet the Political Agent, and it is hoped that
clear issues may be framed on which the thorny question of the Government
of Oman and our intervention in the matter may be definitely determined.
Muhammad Eaimoo remained in charge of the Customs and has put them
Cugtomg on a more businesslike footing than they
have yet obtained. He is however unable
to control the Sultan, who understands no finance, with the result that His
Highness continues to draw cheques at random and consequently his finances
are as embarrassed as ever. The Customs returns have been good and
if Mr. Muhammad Eaimoo had no other business and were in a position to
say No to the Sultan he would be, comparatively speaking, a good Customs
Director. He is however a rich man with large business interests at Gwadur
f u ?- arac .^ an ^ ori ty remain s four months of the year at Muscat. By the nature
0 t bis business at Gwadur he could not put himself in opposition to the Sultan.
There has been practically no Arms Traffic. Individual sales may have
A ^ ffl occurred but nothing which could come
rms ia c ' under the heading traffic. No purchases
^Cre made from the Arms Warehouse.