Page 34 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
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a noteworthy diaracter; for he was the founder of what may be called the Mezeni Dynasty
on the east coast, and his claim to bo independent of the A1 Bu Sa'cedis can hardly be eaid to
bo relinquished by his descendants to this day. Mohammed was a just and able ruler, and
--j gained tl» respect of the people of Mombasa. Two years later a change of dynasty
soon
occurred in 'Oman, the rule being transferred from the Yaarcby tribe to the Al Bu Sa'cedis. This
opportunity was seized by Mohammed 'Otbman to declare himself independent. To put down
this revolt against his authority the Imam, Aluncd-bin-Sa’ccd, sent one Seyf-bin Khalaf,
to assassinate Mohammed 'Otliman and seize tbo government in Ahmed's name. Scyf was eo
far successful that he murdered Mohammed and took possession of the fort, but Moham­
med's brother, Ali-bin-'Othman, escaped from Seyf's hands, and, with the aid of Mr. Cook
an English merchant, and some native allies, recovered the fort and government, and decapitated
Seyf-bin-Khakf. This occurred in the year 1745, and Ali-bin-'Othraan maintained his inde­
pendence till his death,—MagdcsliO) Brava, and Samoo remaining as his dependencies. Kilwa,
Marka, and Zanzibar, however, submitted to the Imam, and the latter island received its
first liovemor, under tho now dynasty, in Abdulla-bin-Jaad Al Bu Sa'eedi.
A few years later, Ali-bin-’Othman undertook an expedition against Zanzibar, where he
was murdered by his relative, Mesood-bin-Nasir, who then usurped the government of
Mombasa. Mesood died in 1774, and was succeeded by Abdulla Mohammed, who died in
1782. Meanwhile, the Imam Ahmed did not interfere in East African politics, nor did his
6on and successor Sa'eed, until the expedition of his younger brother Seyf in 1784, when the
Imam Sa'eed sent his son Hamad, with a fleet, to follow up Seyf and frustrate his intentions.
Hamud, after raising the siege of Zanzibar, went to Mombasa, where he obtained a written
acknowledgment of the suzerainty of the Imam, and then returned to 'Oman. East Africa
then remained unmolested by Muscat for many years; Sultan was too much engaged in
dealing with the lVahabees and with internal troubles to have leisure for distant campaigns,
and for .some years Sa'eed was similarly occupied. Sa'eed's first attempt at interference was in
1812, when be sent a VPali named Khalaf-bin-Nasir, and built a fort at Lamoo. Ahmed-bin-
Mohammed died in 1814, and was succeeded by his son Abdulla, a brave and enterprising'
Chief, who, resolving to separate from the mother-country, refused to send any tribute to Muscat.
Being conscious, however, that this course would inevitably lead to a contest, Abdulla sailed to
Bombay, and endeavoured to secure the alliance of the Indian Government. Some time later,
in 1S17, intestine broils at Patta, the suzerainty over which was claimed by the Wali of
Mombasa, compelled one of the parties to call in the aid of Sa'eed. A small force, under Abdul
Ali, was sent from Mu.-cat, which established Bwana Shaikh as Sa'eed's vassal. The Wali of
Mombasa, however, soon recovered his predominating influence, and matters so remained until
fresh dissensiras arose, when Sa'eed again was invited to interfere, and, burning with jealousy
agaiustthe Mezen Chief, sent a second expedition in 18S2, under Hamad-bin-Ahmed, who received
the submission of Brava, Patta, and Siwi, while Sa'eed's Wali at Zanzibar, hearing of Hamud^s
proceedings, seconded him by attacking Pemba and expelling the Mombasa garrison. Abdulla-
bin-Abmed died 1823, and, as the succession was disputed, the people elected Suliman-bin-Ali,
the ex-Wali of Pemba, to act as Regent temporarily. Sa'eed was at this time getting ready another
fleet at Muscat, and had issued orders that his people were not to trade with Mombasa a
measure which, in connection with the recent loss of Pemba, the source of its food supply, did
much to weaken Suliman's position. Apprehensive of the result of a contest with Muscat,
Suliman-bin-Ali had written to the Government of Bombay, soliciting protection, but no
answer was received to this appeal. It appears, however, that in December 1823 the English
sloop Barracixla, one of the vessels engaged in the East African survey, anchored off
Mombasa. Her arrival was hailed with great delight, and earnest solicitations were made to
Captain Vidal by the Wali Suliman and the inhabitants to take the island under British pro­
tection. This request Captain Vidal decided to refuse, but he offered to transmit their applica­
tion to the British Government. A few days after the Barracouta had left, the Muscat
flotilla sailed into port and immediately commenced the blockade. Suliman-bin-Ali hoisted tho
British flag, trusting by it to deter Abdulla-bin-Suleyyim, the Commander of the expedition,
from his designs. Matters were in this state, and the flag was still hoisted when the Leve*
frigate arrived on the 7th February 1824. A similar application was immediately made for
protection by the Wali to Captain Owen, who, taking a different view from that of his suborth-
nate, Captain Vidal, agreed to a convention accepting the sovereignty over Mombasa from
Melradi to Psngani on the part of England on condition of the abolition of slavery. The
Arab Commander, Abdullvbin-Suleyyim, at once placed himself under the orders of Captam
Owen, and agreed topiveup the blockade. Captain Owen appointed one of his officer*, Dieoto-
nant Beite, as Governor, with a midshipman and four men as guard, and sailed on the lSt*