"تقرير إداري عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج العربي والوكالة السياسية في مسقط لسنة ١٨٩٧-١٨٩٨" [ظ‎‎٣‎٢‎٤] (١٠٨/١٨)

16 ADMINISTRATION REPOET ON THE PERSIAN" GULF POLITICAL
that an attempt was being made by the Sultan to levy exorbitant taxes on the
fish yards owned by them, and suggesting that the taxes should be reduced by
two-thirds.
Personal enquiries made by me on the spot showed that the complaints of
the owners of the fish-yards were well founded, and that the taxes which it
was sought to levy were out of all proportion to the profits made by these
individuals, some of whom had already closed their yards in consequence of its
imposition.
On the matter being represented to the Sultan, His Highness was at first
indisposed to make any change, but ultimately he was induced to agree to the
proposed reduction.
In January 1898, the Sultan agreed to co-operate with the British and
Persian Governments in the suppression of the illegal importation of arms into
Persia and British India and issued a proclamation on the 13th of the ssme
month authorizing British and Persian vessels of war to search, in Maskat
waters, vessels carrying the flags of the British, Persian, and Maskat Govern
ments, and confiscate arms and ammunition found in them intended for Persian
and British Indian ports.
The Political llesident in the Persian Gulf visited Maskat in June in the
R. I. M. S. Lawrence, and again in January in the same vessel.
The quarantine imposed by His Highness the Sultan of Maskat on account
of the prevalence of plague in Bombay and Karachi, remained in force through
out the year. It was reduced to five days in June, but in consequence of the
recent recrudescence of plague at Karachi, it was again increased to eight days.
The measure was effective and kept the disease out of the country.
The tide-gauge which was erected in February 1893, was dismantled in
March by Mr. Belcham, the Extra Assistant Superintendent, Survey of India
Department.
In August 1897, a collision occurred between the Bombay and Persia
Marine. Steam Navigation Company's steamer
Mobile and an Arab dhow from Sur
which resulted in the latter being sunk. All hands were saved by the boats of
the Mohile. The owner of the dhow brought an action against the Bombay
and Persia Steam Navigation Company, but the enquiry showed that the
accident was caused by the negligence of the Nakhoda in not takin"- the
ordinary and proper precautions to avoid such an accident.
The following men-of-war visited MaskatH. M. S. Redbreast, Pigeon,
Navy. Sphinx, Lapwing, and Cossack.
The Indian Government Telegraph steamer Patrick Stewart also visited
Maskat with Mr. Ffinch, the Director-in-Chief of the Indo-European Tele
graphs, on board.
Foreign Navies were represented by the Prench gun-boat Gahes.
During the year 43 fugitive slaves took refuge in the Consulate. Of these
Slave Trade, 3 . 4 were freed under the Treaty stipula
tions of 1873, and the rest dismissed, not
being entitled to freedom.
Commanders Baker of H. M. S, Sphinx and Carr of H. M. S. Lapwing>
liberated, respectively, under the Brussels Conference Act, 3 and 5 slaves who
had taken refuge on board the vessels under their command.
In July, the Residency Agent at Lingah was directed by the Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf to send to this Consulate two Africans from the
Batineh who had taken refuge at the Lingah Agency and who had been kid
napped by two Arabs. The Arabs made their escape on their way to Maskat,
and the Africans who could identify them having also absconded on arrival at
M askat, the case was allowed to drop.
Ihe long standing case of the seven Africans which gave rise to volu
minous correspondence was brought to a close by the release of the three
surviving Africans, one ol whom, by name Saadu, elected to return to Africa;
while the other two, named Seyanoo and Juma, elected to settle in Maskat.
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