British Somaliland and Muscat (1893-1903)
After holding minor administrative appointments in Kolhapur and Savantvadi in India, Cox was posted to British Somaliland, which was then administered from India, as Assistant Political Resident at Zeila. He transferred to Berbera in 1894. He was promoted to Captain in February 1895. In May 1895 he was given command of an expedition against the Red Hared clan, which had blocked trade routes and was raiding the coast. With only 52 Indian and Somali regulars and 1,500 poor quality, untrained local irregulars, he defeated the Red Hared in six weeks. Later that year, he was promoted to be assistant to the Viceroy's agent in Baroda.
In October 1899, Cox was appointed Political Agent and Consul at Muscat, inheriting a tense situation between the British, who regarded the area as under their influence, Sultan Feisal, the local ruler, and the French, who gave protection to the local slave trade (which the British opposed) and had leased a coaling station from Feisal for their navy. Cox managed to successfully end French influence in the area. When Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India, visited Muscat in 1903, he judged that Cox virtually ran the place. Cox was promoted to the rank of Major in February 1902.
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