Page 498 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

30 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Ssyyid Saltan and tho Muscat merchants had agents at Port Louis spocially to purchase
English goods and prizes, and many were tho ships thus brought to tho Gulf or taken to
Calcutta for resale, for St was not until 1806 that the Marine Insurance Offices in India
interfered to check this traffic.
Many contests also took place nbout this time between French and English cruizers in
Arab waters. In November 1800 the Intrepid of 10 guns, commanded by Captain Hall,
encountered a French privateer of superior force off Muscat, and after a long combat succeeded
in beating her off aud chasing her away.
In 1808 La Fortvze, commanded by Captain Lemcme, a daring and successful privateer,
captured tho Indian Marine brig Fly of 14 guns, and shortly after took the Viper
of 14 guns belonging to the same service. Lememe then proceeded to the Mauritius, but
returned to the Gulf early in 1804, and committed great bavoo until November of that year,
when he was himself captured by tbo English frigate Concorde, which bad been Bent out in
search of him.
Seyyid Saltan was well aware that the suspension of hostilities on the part of El Harik
was only temporary, and though the large force collected in the Batineh dispersed on the
retirement of the enemy from before Sohar, ho began at once to make fresh preparations
against the renewal of the storm. With the object of re-opening negociations with the Pasha
of Baghdad for an alliance, and of concerting operations with the Turkish Commander, Seyyid
Sultan despatched one of his ships to Busra under the command of Ibrahim Mulla Ali, but
before he could learn the result of this move he found himself already engaged with the
Wohhabecs by sea and land.
The Amir Saood bin Abdul Aziz had adopted his father's scheme for the complete con-
quest and annexation of ’Oman, and had on his accession issued orders to El Harik to push on
again to the Batineh. At the same time, November 1808, the war fleets of the Uttuk and
Kowasim were sent abroad to sweep the Gulf against the Muscat trade, and began by making
a descent on the Islaad of ELishm, which they overran and pillaged.
It docs not appear that Seyyid Sultan's mission to Baghdad resulted in any joint action
with the Turks.
The Pasha was profuse in his promises of assistance and co-operation, but though equally
desirous to see the Wabtabecs crushed, he preferred to wait and see the 'Omani Prince exhaust
himself in opposing them. Seyyid Sultan's appeals to the Government of India were similarly
unsuccessful. He was left to bear the brunt of the war alone.
Under a weak ruler 'Oman would almost certainly have succumbed to the invader, bnt
Sultan never relaxed his efforts nor spared his resources in the defence of his country, and his
indomitable courage and activity infused a spirit of resistance into his countrymen that enabled
them for years to keep their foes in check.
Until his untimely death in the following year, Seyyid Sultan seems to have been
engaged in an almost continual struggle with Saood's troops, and though be was able to pre­
vent their advance up to the capital, he could never dislodge them from their main post at El
Bereymi nor expel them from the country.
It was in September 1804 that he left 'Oman for the last time on a naval • expedition in
the Gulf. Having collected a fleet of thirteen other ships and war dowe, he embarked on
board the Gunjaca and cruized in search of the piratical fleet that had done so much to injure
his commerce.
He then sailed for Basra, where he wished to ascertain the extent of the military pre­
parations being made by the Turkish Pasha in accordance with his promise for operating
■ against the Wahhabces.
Disappointed and indignant, however, at his reception there, he did not remain long, but
turned bis face homeward and set sail down the Gulf. On his way he transferred himself to
an Arab boat, or bateel, in order to land at Bassidore, and while in this almost defenceless
position was attacked by three piratical dows belonging to Ras El Khyma, before any of his
fleet could discern his danger or come to his assistance. His assailants were Kowasim, at this
time in league with the Wahhabees, and, as usual, at war with Muscat, but that they attacked
with the set purpose of taking the life of the 'Omani Chief is somewhat doubtful. Seyyid
Saltan fell at the first onslaoght, with several of his attendants, and the pirates, on finding
what they had done, fled at once to escape the vengeance of the Muscat fleet. The various
dates mentioned for this event are the 14th, 17th, 18th, and 20th November 1804, but the
exact date is not of importance. He is said to have been buried at Lingah.