Page 541 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

ADMINISTRATION REPORT

OF THB
PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

AND
MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY

POE
1888-89.

Paet I—general summary.

1.—’OMAN—MUSCAT STATE.
The Annual Report of the Muscat Political Agency for the past official
Year has been prepared by Lieutenant VT. Stratton, and forms Part II of this
General Report.
2. The year 1SSS will be memorable in the history of ’Oman from the
death of Seyyid Turki bin Sa’eed bin Sultan after a reign of seventeen
years.
3. In the middle of May Surgeon-Major Jayakar telegraphed that the
Sultan was dangerously ill, aud not expected to recover, and that an immediate
struggle for power would occur on his decease. I thereupon proceeded at once
to Muscat in Her Majesty’s ship Kingfisher, and visited Seyyid Turki,
who, though still ill and weak, had so far rallied that the Civil Surgeon did
not apprehend an immediate termination of his life. I therefore returned to
Bushire.
4. Information having been received of the death of Seyyid Turki on
the 4th of June, I proceeded again to Muscat, and personally conveyed to the
sons of the late Sultan the condolences of Her Majesty the Queen-Empress
and His Excellency the Viceroy of India, in accordance with instructions
received by telegraph.
5. Seyyid Turki left three sons, Seyyids Mohammed, Feysal, and Eahd,
all grown-up young men, and all of an African mother. The eldest, Mohammed,
is somewhat disqualified by appearance, manner, &c., from becoming ruler
of the Muscat State, and was, more or less with his own acquiescence, put
aside, and the second son assumed the government of Muscat, apparently with
the general consent and approval of the population and tribes of ’Oman.
6. At my last interview with the late Sultan in May, His Highness
evinced more interest in the future fate of his eldest son 8eyyid Mohammed
than in that of the two younger sons. He was aware that the latter
would combine to put aside Seyyid Mohammed, and seemed to take it for
granted that Seyyid Eeysal and Seyyid Fahd would make good their position
in ’Oman after hia own decease; but I think His Highness also took it for
granted that his sons would receive active support frOm the British Government.