Page 187 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1884-85. 19

APPENDIX A TO PART XL
VISIT OP POLITICAL AGENT, MUSCAT, TO RAS FARTAK.
On tbo 16th August 1883, tbo S. S. Airy, ladon with wheat and bound for Port Said
from Pom bay, ran aground at Ras Nish ton near Cape Fartak and became a total wreck*
The crew, however, got safely ashoro in the boats and were hospitably received and entertained
by the M ah ras, who forwarded them shortly after in a bugla hired for the purpose to Muscat.
The Government of India, on receiving a report of the circumstances, sanctioned the pre­
sentation of rewards, to the value of Its. 500, to the Sultan of Kesheen and the Chiefs of Nish-
ton and Sihoot for the kind treatment and hospitality shown by them to tho shipwrecked
seamen, and tho Political Agent was instructed to convey these presents personally aud dis­
tribute them.
The Political Resideut, Persian Gulf, having arranged with Captain Ansoa for a passage in
Her Majesty's ship Dragon, the Political Agent left Muscat on the 10th December 1884,
and proceeded first to Keshcen, where he arrived on tho 15th December.
On landing, the Political Agent accompanied by Captain Anson, had an interview with
Sultan Abdulla, and after thanking him on behalf of the Government of India for his friendly
action in affording protection to the crew of the S. S. Airy and arranging for their trans­
mission to Muscat, the Political Agent presented him with the gifts that had been prepared
for his acceptance.
Sultan Abdulla said that directly be heard of the wreck be had sent orders by his nephew,
Abdulla-bin-Mubammad, to Dhaboot for the crew to be properly cared for and to be conveyed
to Muscat as soon as a bugla could be procured, aud he was glad that his action had merited
the approbation and notice of Government.
The Sultan stated at the interview that the whole Mahra tribe were his subjects, and
that his rule extended along the coast from Mesenaat to Ras Tharbat Ali. He promised
that shipwrecked crews of any nationality should always find protection and hospitality from
his people within his territories.
From Kcshcen the Dragon proceeded to Sihoot, where a visit was paid to Sultan Saad-
bin-salim, who was in charge of the town during the absence of the Governor, Sultan
Muhammad-bin-Omar. The latter is the son of the last Sultan of Kesheen, Omar-bin-Towari,
who was visited by Captain S. B. Haines and was the rightfal successor, but he was too
yonng at the time of bis father's death to assume power, and it passed on to his cousin
Abdullah, the present Sultan.
Sihoot is a long straggling town, larger than Kesheen, and more bosy and thriving. It
has 250 houses and about 2,000 inhabitants, a very large proportion of whom are negroes.
The exports are frankincense, salt-fish, barley, sardine oil, and shark fins; and the imports in
cloth, &c., are considerable, as Sihoot is the main depflt for the snpply of the populous Wady
Maseelah. There are four banian traders from Catch here, who keep shops and appear to bo
doing well.
Changing course at Sihoot, the Dragon steamed back to Ras Fartak, near the extreme
point of which there is a fishing village named Khesheyt, a place frequented by Zanzi*
bar slavers for landing cargoes intended for the Hadhramant market. The Governor or
Alakaddam of Khesheyt and of Wady, a town 5 miles inland, is Ali, a nephew of old Sheikh
'£esa mentioned by Haines. After visiting Khesheyt, the Political Agent proceeded to Nish too.
The ancient Greek writers named this promontory Syagro6, having apparently oonfoonded
it with Ras Sankireh, another large headland further to the east. The Mahras name it
Farteyk.
It is the most striking and, after Ras Sajar, the largest promontory on the southern
coast of Arabia, and forms a very remarkable natural feature. On tho western side the rise
is somewhat gradual, tho range behind the maritime plain of Kesbcen coming to a sudden
termination at this point. On the eastern side tho land turns abruptly to the north, tho cliff
rising sheer from tho sea and presenting a perpendioular escarpment 2,000 feel in height and
0 miles in extent. But though apparently a smooth prooipice, it is in faot a series of narrow
horizontal terraces or ledges corresponding with the strata and indented with numerous caves
inhabited by Mahraa, who gain a precarious livelihood by fishing. Desoondiog to the lower