Page 431 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AORNCT FOR 188MJ. 19

PART IL

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE
YEAR 1886-87.
Political.—At tho commencement of the official year, affaire in the Sharkiyeh tvere in a
somewhat disturbed etato and in other parte of the country there were various small matters
requiring adjustment.
In April—Muhammad and Mamsh, sons of Nasir-bin-Seif, former Shaikh of the Beni
ttiam, were put to death by their uncle Suleiman-bin-Seif at Nezwa, he fearing that they
would wrest from him the Sheikhdom; the other two sons made their escape.
In May—His Highness Seyyid Toorkco received the present of a 6teamer, the S. S. 8ulta.net
from his brother, the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Muhammad-bin-Shinas Shaikh of the Beni Battash, was seized on his entering Muscat
and put to death by order of His Highness Seyyid Toorkee ;he is said to have been a turbulent
character, and his tribe had for some time past been giving trouble. Muhammad-bin-Adi
was the nominated Shaikh by the Sultan.
In June—The Al-bu-Saeedecs living at Heil Ghaf came into Muscat, fearing reprisals by
the Beni Battash on account of the death of Muhammad-bin-Shinas.
In July—On the 13th instant His Highness Seyyid Toorkee was presented at a Darbar
held in his palace with the Insignia of a G.C.S.I., conferred on His Highness by Her Most
Gracious Majesty the Queen-Empress by Colonel Miles, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf;
and on the same occasion a promise of active support from the British Government to His
Highness Seyyid Toorkee during his lifetime against anprovoked aggression was announced to
His Highness. Most of the principal Chiefs of Oman were present at the Darbar, but his
brother, Seyyid Abdul Aziz, to whom an invitation had been sent, after accepting it and coming
to within a few miles of Muscat, demanded a guarantee of safety from the British Political
Agent in addition to that already given him by the Sultan, which was refused and he returned
to Semcd without attending the Darbar; his people killed three Siabiyecn on their way back, and
the Siyabiyeen a few days after killed three Shibul in retaliation. On the 2Sth instant His
Highness Seyyid Toorkee, accompanied by his son Seyyid Muhammad, started for a trip into
the interior and was absent for a week. His Highness had not visited the interior for many
years.
In August—A dispute arose between the Awamiraod Beni Jabir which resulted in loss of
life, and appeared likely to lead to much trouble. Shaikh Abduilah-bm-Salim, formerly Temee-
meh of the Bcni-bu-Ali, came to Muscat with a largo following on a visit to His Highness
Seyyid Toorkee.
In September—His Highness Seyyid Toorkee, accompanied by his sons, Seyyids Faysal
and Fahd, visited Kuriyat and Soor in the S. S. Sultante and was absent a week. At
Soor His Highness deputed Suleiman-bin-Sweilim to effect a truce between the Hijveen and
the Beni-bn-Ali .and Hishm, in which he was successful. It was reported that the Hina weens
had determined to rise, with the object of establishing the Sultan's brother, Seyyid Abdul
Aziz, at Soor, or making war on the Ghafree tribes of Jaalan; it was also reported thmt
Seyyid Abdul Aziz had gone with a party of the Haboos to the Beni Battash country.
The Beni Battash attacked the fort of Kuryat, but were repulsed with loss; they looted the
store-rooms of a Bania of about $250 worth of goods. Reinforcements were sent to Kuryat
under command of Seyyid Bcde-bin-Seif. Shaikh R&shid-bin-Ali Murrab Aamaree, formerly
VVali at Gwodur, was killed at Seeb by a man of the Zakawanee tribe named Seif-bin-Hamad
whom he also killed. At the end of the month letters were received from Salim-bin-Hassaa
at Rahabee, stating that S&leh-bin-Ali had sent a messenger to him demanding passage
through the Kahaza pass for the Hinawees who had determined to attack Muscat.
In October—The truce which His Highness Seyyid Toorkee had proposed to the Shat-
kiyeb tribes, was in danger of being rendered impossible at the outset, through an attack by
6ome of the Beni-bu-Ali on a village of the *H.ijreeen in which two slaves of the Hijreee*
and an Aamaroe were killed; the difficulty was, however, got over. The Beni Battash having
become divided in their Councils, Seyyid Abdul Azi*, who had gone to their assistance vrifk
some of the Haboos, left their country, and on the 13th instant letters were received by the
cl