"ملف 59/15 B (A 14) مسقط: تجارة الرقيق تحت مظلة العلم الفرنسي" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٧] (٣١٠/٢٢٧)

2
after a sharp encounter with the Arabs, a number of whom were killed and taken
prisoners.
The Snr Community possesses between 250 and 300 fine dhows which make long
voyages during winter to Zanzibar, the E,ed Sea, and Indian Ocean generally, and
return for the summer just before the burst of the Sur monsoon.
Jiy present date (the 11th June) all these dhows should have, according to
precedent, returned to Sur where they are laid up and docked during the monsoon
preparatory to starting out again.
In conversation with Hie Arab Sheikh of the place, Major Cox was informed that
all their dhows had returned safely to port, and that there had been no wrecks or
casualties.
lie was, however, informed confidentially, by reliable members of the British
Community who have resided there for years, and are thoroughly conversant with the
people and the politics of the place, that from three weeks to a month ago, when news
reached Sur of the disaster on the African Coast, there was, for two or three days
general wailing and mourning by all the women of the place, and that as far as is
at present known, there are 155 men of the community still absent from their homes,
among whom are several French prot&^s—of these Major Cox was given the details
of seventeen who are generally known and admitted to have been killed in the
engagement with the Portuguese, but the Chief Sheikh only admits three casualties,
and after the first outburst of mourning they have stopped all such demonstrations
and endeavour to put down all local gossip on the subject.
About 20 miles inland from Sur, coal has been discovered, and the Sultan of
Muscat has promised to give the English the first chance of working it.
The British geologist who examined the coal pronounced it of excellent quality,
but said he did not think there was more than 250,000 tons of it available at the
places he examined.
The want of fuel and water would, naturally, make mining operations expensive,
but it certainly might be worth while for the British Government to establish a coal
ilep6t there, plenty of stone is available for building jetties on either side of the Creek
which runs between the two villages.
The place is easily defended, in fact the Sultan has a line of forts at the back of
the Creek which would defend it.
After leaving Sur, I proceeded to Sib and Barka, two towns or villages to the
westward, of Muscat.
The former is the sanitorium for many of the leading Arabs of Muscat who
have date gardens there, and thither send their families during the hottest months of
the year.
On landing, the Sultan's Representative and various British Indian subjects
were interviewed.
It appears that just before our arrival the Sultan had received a threatening
letter from the eldest son of Sali ben Ali (the Sheikh who, in 1895, raided Muscat,
the town being in possession of his tribe for about three weeks: who were, eventually,
bribed otf by the Sultan, who besides had to pay heavy damages for losses sustained
by British subjects), telling him he would raid the coast in the vicinity of Muscat
unless paid to desist, and advising the Sultan to warn British subjects to look out for
themselves.
Thereupon the Sultan strengthened the garrisons of these places. They amount
to about 150 men armed with Martinis.
The visit of this large ship will, undoubtedly, strengthen the Sultan's hands in
iliuse [daces as exaggerated reports as to size, armament, and crew, quickly spread
inland.
Leaving Havka on the I'-th, I anchored oft' Bunder Abbas next day, and on the
morning of the 14th, lauded and called on the Deputy-Governor, a Persian Major.
Mr. Van llooa Meeh, a Belgian, and Collector of Customs there, was with the
Uovernor, when 1 paid the ottieial visit.
I am told that the Uelgians at Bunder Abbas were supposed to be Russian
Agents, that Uovermuent thinking it wiser to employ them than their own countrymen
uo, if thus employed, would probably cause various criticisms.
\t noun i saluted the Persian Hag with twenty-one guns, and in the afternoon
I be Uuputy-Uovernor and bis smto leturned my visit. I then left for Bushire
aueboriug olV Uenjan Island that night.
Ibis island it'occupied together with K ishm, Lurah, and Ormuz, would form a
•;ood nav&l baso iu the event of complications arising in the Persian Gulf.