"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٨‎٣] (٣٩٦/٣٧٢)

FOR T0E YEAR 1919.
67
establish a Customs house at Sur. In spite of the presence of one of th®
Egyptian Customs officials the attempt has been abortive, the Sur people
refusing to pay more than the two per cent, they had paid before, and openly
defying the SultaA s authority. This is not amunusual situation in Sur, and the
only thing that Mill put an end to it is ithe presence of His Majesty Ships
which would be a visible sign to the people that we are prepared to support the
authority of His Highness on the coast. 1 ^
A rough budget of monthly expenditure was obtained from the new
administration and it is given below as an indication both of the financial chaos
prevailing and of the remarkable system of Government:—
Hough Budget of Monthly Expenditure.
Rs.
1. Total of allowances to the members of family and others, cost of fodder
for riding animals, household expenses, price of bailey for horses
and other expenditure fixed in dollars. $12,531 at 2^0 per cent. . 31^77
2. Total allowances fixed in rupees and fodder for horses . , , 1?,4)1-6
3. Total expenditure for Customs employees fixed in dollars. $ 635 at
250 per cent. ......... 1,587
4. Total salaries fixed in rupees ....... 2,085
6. Presents of Ids and other festivities have not been entered hero and
will be entered when occur . , . . • , .
Total . 47,694
The first month's working showed receipts Es. 86,918, expenditure
Es. 47,312 for the State. On this a monthly alloT^pce of Rs. 10,000 was
provisionally fixed for the Saltan's privy purse. Including tills payment the
receipt/and expenditure for the next two months were :—-
November Keceipts Ks. 78,768, expenditure Rs. 70,071
December „ 61,020, „ „ 67,219
giving a balance of Rs 42,234 a* the end of the year under report.
A rough budget compiled from the very small amount of material avail
able, estimated receipts of Rs. 10,76,400 and expenditure of Rs. 9,01,280 during
the year ending 1st October 1920.
On the Ist December 1920 Rs. 65,250 comprising Rs. 39,0C0 a year interest
on the loan and Rs. 16,250 first payment of principal is due to Government,
Should therefore no specially untoward situation occur, the State should be
able to pay its way, though it will not have much money to spend in improve
ments. These may wait, however. There is no hurry and with the establish
ment of a moderately sound control of income and expenditure, the money
necessary for the very slight reforms suitable to this medieval Arab State will
eventually appear.
His Highness in accordance with his undertaking in May established a
regular law court with Saiyid Nadir as judge. The result cannot be said to
have been successful. The personal decision of the Sultan, which when he was
roused, was fairly speedy, has been replaced by the dilatory attendance of Saiyid
Nadir for an hour a day, and the labourious examination of witnesses and
writing of unnecessary statements! There are more pending cases than there
ever have been before and discontent is growdng. A radical reform of per
sonnel and system is required. All that is necessary m Muscat is that justice
should be speedy, popular and free. The present system meets none ot these
requirements.
The administration of the Walis on the coast has continued as before and
has in no way sunk from the high water mark of corruption , weakness and
incompetence which it had previously reached. No attempt is made by the
Sultan to control them and no account is ever demanded of their expendi
ture or their stewardship. They but add to the Saltan s unpopularity and
weaken his prestige.