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RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL A3ENCY FOR 1883-Si.
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PART IL
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1883-84.
VolilxcaL—Nothing had occurred during the early put of the year 1883 to disturb the
general tranquillity of 'Oman, and the official year 1883-84 opened favourably.
In May the Sultdn attempted to renew nogocialions with Shaikh Ililal-bin-Zahir of the
Beni Hina through the mediation of Ilamood-el-Jahafee for Uao surrender of the fort at Nezwa
which Hilal had promised before to deliver up for a certain sum, but nothing came out of it!
and tho fort still remains in possession of Hilal. The quarrel that had arisen in the previoue
year between the Nidabiyeen and Hehbiyecn on the one side, and the Beni Jabir on the other,
about the village of Seroor, now broke out afresh, and, in view of the behaviour of the former
tribes, the Sultan began to consider whether the subsidy they received for holding the passes
should not be transferred to the Beni Jabir.
Shaikh Hamood-el-Jahafee sided with the Nidabiyeen in this affair, and His Highness
endeavoured to entice him into Muscat, where he intended to seize him. But Hamood was
• stopped at Senail, and the plot failed. Offers of money were then made to induce Hamood
to retire, but they were refused: shortly after, however, Hamood, after unsuccessfully raiding
the Beni Jabir, returned to Sharkiyeh. In tho meantime the Beni Jabir, aided by a contin­
gent from Nakhl, occupied the Nidabiyeen houses in Seroor and cut down their date trees, and
the latter were compelled to sue for a truce.
\
At the end of June the Sultan received letters from Ilis Highness Scyyid Abdul Azeez and
Shaikh Saleh-bin-Ali, openly declaring their intention of assisting the Nidabiyeen against the
Beni Jabir, whereupon, to avoid further complications and to put an end to the quarrel, His
Highness despatched messengers to Semail to summon the Shaikhs of the Nidabiyeen, Rehbi-
yeen, Siabiyeen, and Beni Jabir to Muscat with a view to the final and amicable settlement of
the whole question.
On the 6th July, however, the Envoys returned to Muscat unsuccessful and reported that
the Nidabiyecn and Rehbiyeen Shaikhs had gone to Sliarkiyeh. His Highness Seyyid Toorkee
now despatched Shaikh Sliamis to his brother Abdul Azeez, desiring him to prevent any ruing
in the Sharkiyeh, to which Scyyid Abdul Azeez replied that the llehbiyeen Shaikh had gone
with the Hahoos to Salch-bin-Ali to concert an attack on the Beni Jabir, but, as regards himself,
he would not interfere if his brother Toorkee desired it. It is now well known that this quarrel
about Seroor had been carefully fomented and increased, almost from the first, by the intrigues
of Shaikh Saleh, whose subtle mind had perceived that if he could separate the two tribes holding
the passes between Sharkiyeh and Muscat from allegiance to the Sultan he would have gained
an important advantage in the event of his being able to organize another rising against Hia
Highness. Not only did he succeed in this, but he managed to make the quarrel itself the
pretext for his rebellious proceedings subsequently.
The Beni Jabir now expecting an attack by the Sharkijeh tribes applied to the Sult£n for’
reinforcements, and Ilis Highness prepared to move out to Semail in person. But from this
he was dissuaded, and shortly after the Nidabiyeen wrote in to say that they would no longer
receive His Highness's subsidy or hold the passes for him.
In July a collision occurred at Barka between the Wahabee garrison and the town's people,
resulting in two men being killed and six wounded. The town's people having been worsted
called in the aid of the Ma'Awalees, who came down and besieged the fort. The Wazeer
Seyyid-Saccd, however, was despatched to Barks in the Dar-tl-Salcm, and effected a satis-
factory adjustment of the affair.
Early in August it was reported in Muscat that a rising would certainly take place (after
the Ramzan E’ed) of the Hinawi tribee in Sharkiyeh to support the Nidabiyeen against the
Beni Jabir, aad it was expected that the insurgents would not confine themselves to the Semail
valley, but continue their march to Muscat.
Oa tho 14th August news arrived that Scyyid Abdul Azeez and Shaikh Saleh, with a large
force, had reached the Akk Paaa, and two days later Hia Highness received letter, from h.. .
brother and Saleli-bin Ali, announcing their intention of coming on to Muscat. Preparation.
Were accordingly made for defence, and the friendly tribe, were being cal ed m when new.
•triveJ, on the 20th, of tho break-up of the coalition and return of the msurgeat. to Shark.yeh.
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