Page 198 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

30 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

a trail of blood and flame. For five years the Arabs appear to have been left unmolested by
their new foes, and in the meantime they had leisure to rebuild their towns, and to watch, as they
doubtless did, with interest the proceedings of their ruthless invaders at Hormuz and in
India.
In 1512, Diogo Fernandes dcBega, who had been sent to demolish the fort at Socotra
which bad been found useless for the purpose it was intended to serve, came to Hormuz and
Muscat to receive the tribute agreed upon with the King. It had been tbc intention of
Albuquerque, who bad in the meantime become the second Viceroy of India, to return to the
Persian Gulf this year with deBcga, but circumstances prevented his doing so until two year*
later, when lie sailed from Goa with a fleet of 14 sail of the lino and 13 smaller vessels. On
the 21st March 1515 he sighted land near Ras-cl-Nad, and four days later arrived at Kooriyab.
Here he found an armada from Hormuz on the look-out for pirates, and deciding not to molest
it he moved on to Muscat, where he anchored for two days to take in provisions and water. The
Persian Governor or Agent here at the time was Rais Hamed, a nephew of Rais Noor-ul-Dfo,
or.e of the officers of the King of Hormuz, and Albuquerque was much exorcised at observing
his tyrannical behaviour over the people. He appears, however, to have behaved civilly enough
to the Portuguese, having doubtless a lively recollection of what had occurred seven year,
before.
Having completed the conquest cf Hormuz, the Viceroy prepared to turn his face
southwards, and appointed his relative, Pedro d'Albuquerque, commandant of the fort with
a strong garrison to overawe the city. It was the last important act of bis life, for he
was very ill when he set sail, and as it turned out on his death-bed, and the “ terrible Albu­
querque, ” as he was called, died the day of his arrival off the bar of Goa, his end being hastened
by the news he had received of his supersession and recall by the King.
DeBarros gives a curious and detailed account of the revenue and expenditure of Hormuz
at this time. He says that on the coast of Arabia the chief town was Kilhat, the Governor
and Customs Master at which overruled those iu the other towns in the principality. The reve­
nue collected and remitted by Kilhat to Hormuz was 19,200 Sherafins, equal to 5,760 dollars,
which was contributed in the following proportions: Kilhat paid 11,000 Asfcrafis, Muscat
4,000, Sobar 1,500, Khor Fahao 1,500, Dihba 500, and Lima 700. The Julfar district, or
Pirate coast, also paid 7,500, and in addition to theabove the boats engaged in the pearl fishery,
which were compelled to go to Hormuz to take out passes, contributed 1,500 Ashrafis, The
Oman revenue thas <s.rae to £8,200 Ashrafis. The total revenue of Hormuz is said to have
been 193,078 Asbrafis, or §59,423.
The same writer also gives us a glimpse at the political state of Oman at this time, from-
which we learn that the Imam Muhoramad possessed undisputed spiritual and temporal power
iu all parts, and that the chief cities in Oman proper, which was the most populous district
were Manh, Nezwa, and Behla, each of which was fortified and had its own jK/m-independent
King who ruled in a sort of republic. These chieftains had formed a league to protect them
selves agamst the Benjaber, a predatory tribe and the most powerful in Arabia, who used to raid
Oman every year at the date season. The Imam had to buy them off from plundering bis
territories by an annual tribute.
Intermediate between the above towns and the seaboard were other Sheikhdoms who were
continually at fend with the Persian garrisons, a state of distraction which of co-arse operated
in favour of the Portuguese. Who these Beujaber were that appeared so formidable is as
enigma that remains unsolved.
After the subjection of Hormuz, three places on the Arab coast—viz., Kilhah, Muscat, and
Sohar,—became stations for the Portuguese factors and merchants who were appointed and
controlled from Hormuz. They were sufficiently protected by the visits of the King's ship*
from India which touched at these places on their way to Hormuz and Bahrein, and as no vessel
under a native flag was suffered to cross the ocean without a pass, they had practically the
control of all seaborne commerce, aud thus commanded the markets. But it does not appear that
any garrisons were yet stationed on the Omdn coast. In the year 1519 the first check to the
Portuguese prestige in the gulf occurred at Kilhafc, and was due, as suoh things usually are due,
to an unwise meddling in local politics. The King of Hormuz happening to be incensed against
the Governor of Kilhat, Reis Shehab-ul-Din, and being unable to got him into hi® power, be­
sought the aid of Dorn Garcia deContinho, the Portuguese commandant. Dora Garoia accord­
ingly directed the Captain-Major or Naval Chief of the squadron, Duarte Mendes DeVascon-
cellos, to arrest Shehab-ul-Din and bring him to Hormuz. This order, however, Duarte Mendea

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