Page 190 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

22 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP TIIE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

and 6tone 25 feet by 10; it is 18 feet long by 4 broad, and lies north by south, with a broken
headstono of block basalt. The inscription is imperfect nnd there is no date.
Tho recent history of Dbofar may be said to commence from tlio seizure of power by the
famous pirate Muhammad Akil, who established order and ruled with a strong lmnd until his
murder by tho Garaa in 1829. On hearing of his death, Ilis Highness Scyyid Saccd, the Imam
of-Muscat, immediately sent a force and took possession of the place, although Muhammad's
brother, Abdul Itnhraan, who was then a merchant in Bombay, desired and intrigued to obtain
the government. Seyyid Saecd, however, was at that timo engaged in his unlucky enterprises
against Siwi and Membasa in East Africa, and could ill spare the troops required for garrison­
ing Dhofar. They were consequently withdrawn soon after, and tho district fell into a state of
anarchy, from which it did not emerge until the arrival of Seyyid Fadhl, the Moplah. In tho
year 1870 the Wali at Baghdad, under orders from tho Porte, which at that time had designs on
Southern Arabia, despatched a quasi-scientific expedition along this coast, and a liberal distri­
bution of presents nnd flags was made to tbe various chiefs. Dhofar was one of the chief
points visited by the steamer, and Turkish flags were landed here, but this tentative move was
not followed up by Turkey. Seyyid Fadhl endeavoured to emulate the career of Mahammnd Akil,
but though be had the support of Mecca in his enterprise, be lacked tbe capacity for rule; aud his
followers, who 6eem to have been a band of ruffians, roused the ]>eople against them by their
villainy and oppression. The general confusion became so great at last that the Katheerees
and Garas were compelled to unite and expel Lira. Ilis Highness Seyyid Toorkee was then
invited by tbe natives to occupy the country, and they have siuce remained contented and
fairly prosperous under his rule.
At the time of tbe Political Agent's visits in Her Majesty's ship Philomel in Novem­
ber 1888, tbe Gara Bedouins were not on good terms with the Governor owing to a dis­
pute about taxes, and a collision had occurred shortly before between the garrison and Sheikh
Faukhor-el-Maashinee. At this visit the* Political Agent found that the Garas had since
submitted, and that friendly relations had been re-established.
From Sallala the Political Agent visited El Dahareez and Thakah, and from tbe latter
place the Dragon steamed on to Merbat.
Merbat is a town of about 300 inhabitants, situated in a little bay which forms an
excellent and secure anchorage during the north-cast monsoon, at the western extremity of a
narrow plain 25 miles long by 7 broad, extending under tbe Samhan range. 'There are two
forts—one in ruins, constructed by Muhammad Akil in 1806; and a now one built by the order of
His Highness Seyyid Toorkee four years ago, which has a garrison of 20 men. About half a
mile from tbe town lies the tomb of Sheikh Mahamraad Ali, who died in 556 A.H., now a
famous shrine. The principal export of vegetable origin from Southern Arabia is olibanum or
frankincense, {he country producing which, the libanopborus region of the ancieuts, extends
from tbe Wady Meyfa and the Himyar range in longitude 47° 80'E. to llasek in longitude
65°20' E., an area embracing the whole of Hadhramant and part of Om&n. Westward of Ras
Fartak the tree is found but sparingly, and the collection of the gum is neglected by the Arabs,
tbe work being left to a great extent in the hands of Somalis, who come across for the purpose
and pay for the privilege. The trees are mo*t abundant on the limestone summits of Jebel
Samhan, where the gum is gathered in May and December by the Garas, who call it ShlhAt.
The termination of the limit of the tree at Hasek and Wady Bakdt is very abrupt, £nd it is
not found further to the east. The average annual export of the gum from Dhofar is abent
30 tons, and the local value §60 per to*». Two young trees were brought to Muscat in Her
Majesty's ship Dragon and are now thriving.
From Merbat the Dragon proceeded to Hasek on the 23rd. The old town here, now
completely in ruins, is situated on the left bank of the Wady, where it was protected by two
circular towers. The more recent inhabitants appear to have been of the Ba Malah tribe, who
were attacked by the Kowasira or Beni Yaa about three quarters of a century ago, and tbe
women and children carried off into slavery. There is now no trade whatever at Hasek, and
Arab croft seldom or never call here.
HellAniyeh, the largest and only inhabited island of the Kuria Maria group, was neat
visited. Tbe inhabitants of this island, 84 in number, subsist on fish and goats' milk, with a
little rice and dates which they procure from passing dows by selling dried fish. Their
habitations ore of the most wretched nnd primitive description. Generally round or oval, 6
feet in diameter, and the height of a walking-stick, they are built of loose stones with a scanty
rcofing of mats laid over sticks and fish bones. Miserable as is their condition, their possesions