Page 487 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

EE8IDBXCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOE 1087-88. 19

Part II.-ADIIINISTBATION EEPOET OF THE MUSCAT POLI­
TICAL AGEUCY FOE THE YEAE 1887-88.
Political.—The official year now under report commenced with an unusually quiet condi­
tion of the province of 'Oman, and with the exception of an attack made by Zaeed bin Khaleefah
on a section of the Dhowahir tribe at Bcreymi for attempting to throw off their allegiance
to biro, nothing of any political importance occurred until the beginning of June.
The Sultan, to prevent the Beni-Yas from being established in power at Bereymi, sent
the Dhowahir assistance in the shape of money and ammunition, but unfortunately the M Dor-
a9-Saiam ” which carried it, arrived too late at Soharto thwart Zaeed in his object, and he suc­
ceeded in carrying off two of the Dhowahir Shaikhs as prisoners to Abu Dbabbi.
In the early part of Juno Shaikh SuIeiman-bin-Seif, with the assistance of the Nizari
Arabs of Ziki, and principally through the treachery of one of the garrison, seized the fort
at Birket-nl-Moze, drove out the Wali Saeed-bin-Sultan at Ameyri, and, taking advantage of
his unopposed position, proceeded immediately to Ziki. On the news of the fall of Birket-al-
Moze reaching Muscat, the Sultan had three Nizar Shaikhs, who happened to be here at the
time, seized and thrown into prison, and anticipating Suleiman's advance on Ziki sent rein­
forcements and provisions for the garrison there, under Seyyid Hamud-bin-Nasir, but Shaikh
Suleiman had taken the precaution of garrisoning the principal places on the road, so as to
prevent the much-needed help from reaching Zilri, and Seyyid Haraud had consequently to
fall back upon Somail. Notwithstanding these marked acts of disloyalty Suleiman-bin-Seif
excused himself to His Highness the Sultan by pleading the oppression of the Wali against
the widow and sons of Seyyid Mnhammad-bin-Hilal, as a plea for his capture of Birket-al-
Moze, and His Highness's action in imprisoning the three Nizar Shaikhs as his plea for advanc­
ing on ZikL
While affairs were progressing in this unfavourable manner in'Oman proper the dis­
affected tribes of the Sharkiyah, as usual under the leadership of the Arab rebel, Shaikh Saleh-
bin-Ali, were trying to form a general coalition of all the Hinawee tribes, and now, en­
couraged by the success which Shaikh Suleiman had met with, Shaikh Saleh, not only opened
an intriguing correspondence with that Chief, bat actually had an interview with him with the
object of gaining him over to the general Hinawee cause. The plan of action, had it suc­
ceeded, was evidently to aim a blow at the Sultan’s authority in several places at the same
time, and to harass him and weaken his power, so as to enable the rebels, among whom Seyyid
Abdul Aziz, the Sultan's brother, was one, to dictate their own terms.
As a prdode to this general plan, Seyyid Ibrahim bin Kais took by surprise the town
and fort of Soweik on the Batiuch coast on the night of the 1st of July, and was threatening
to take the town of Mesaah, when the Sultan, fearing that the force he had sent with his three
sons and Seyyid Bedr-bin-Stif, would not be sufficient to arrest his progress and to oust him
from his position, aud having therefore requested the help of a British man-of-war, the Resi­
dent arrived from Boshire on the 9th with orders of Government to afford Seyyid Tnrki's
force the required support, if necessary, and, proceeding to Soweik, demanded on the following
day the unconditional surrender of the place from Seyyid Ibrahim.
Seyyid Ibrahim, who was at first not aware that the Sultan would be granted this assist­
ance, now finding his position awkward, although expressing his readiness to abide by the
wishes of the BritiA Government, begged hard to be allowed to retain Soweik if only to
avoid the disgrace eoxueqnenl on such an easy and unconditional surrender, but, seeing that
the Resident was prepared to support the Sultan actively in recovering the place, promised to
evacuate it and to retire pearefullj, the Resident in return for his friendly assent agreeing to
request Seyyid Turki, conditional on hia maintainiog a friendly attitude towaids the Sultan
to restore hia subsidy, which had been stopped some months ago for several acts of disloyalty *
Hi, Highness the Sultan, Ving grateful tor the Resident’, action, expressed hi. willing
to restore Sejyid Ibrahim s subs.dj, and the Resident returned to Soweik on the lithWhen
Mtafr garrison at night, the Rerident proceeding imme-

°" f 0Ur PoE?W ^ desired effect, (or .oon afterward, new, w«
u wt'" f Hinawee rising had failed, but Shaikh Saleh, now dta-
eomfited b, his failure in this direction, turned his side altogether and wrote to Muhammad-
c £