Page 561 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1888-88.'. 26

putation proceeded to Ras-el-Kheimah in tho SSultatiPO on 23rd August and
returned to Muskat on 29th idem, bringing as prisoners four Sheikhs of the
Kumzar and threo of the Beni IJidecyah, who, on arrival, were confined in Fort
Jollali
Meanwhile, news had been received that Seyyid Ibrahim-bin-Keis was on
tho point of starting to seize Awabec. Seyyid Feysal wrote to the Ibriyeen to
defend Awabce, and to the Wali of Nakhl to give any assistance in his power.
The Ibriycen, however, had been gained over by Ibrahim-bin-Kcis, and re­
mained aloof from the struggle. Awabee fell on 2nd September after a stout
resistance, in which tho son of the Akeed Aii-bin-Seif El-Ibree was killed.
On hearing of this, Scyyid Feysal determined on an expedition against
Rostak, the stronghold of Seyyid Ibrahim, and wrote to the tribes to assemble
at Burkah. War materiel was despatched in the Dar as 6alamf under Seyyid
Hamad-bin-Nasir and an escort of Arabs to reinforce the garrison at Burkah.
Seyyid Ibrahim had written by this time to explain his seizure of Awabee.
He stated that the inhabitants had asked him to expel the Governor for his
oppression towarls them, and, as he considered Awabee to be one of his own
forts, be had acceded. It seems that Awabee had originally been held in his
interests by the Ibriyeen, who had afterwards delivered it over to the late
Sultan.
On ISth September, accordingly, His Highness started for Burkah in
his steamer the Sultanee, accompanied by his brother Seyyid Muhammad,
Sheikh Tahnoon-bin-Za’eed-bin-Khalifah of Abu-Dbabbi and all the principal
Al-bu-Sa’eedees of Muscat, except Seyyids Hilal and JiIuhammad-bin-Azzan,
The expedition, however, proved a failure. Almost from the first there was
defection in Seyyid Feysal’s army, tlie Chiefs with him preferring to try and
arrange a peace between him and Seyyid Ibrahim to fighting. T7ant of money
to pay the troops further operated to this end. It appears that, on landing at
Burkah, His.Highness proceeded to ’Washeyl near Rostak, where the people
of the surrounding country tendered their submission to him. A fight took
place between the two forces which resulted in Seyyid Feysat establishing him­
self in the Mizarsc bastion, after which he proceeded to shell the fort of Rostak.
The Yal Saad tribe had in the meantime risen, and were attacking Scyyid Eeysal’s
line of communications with the sea. This led to a request that Her Majesty's
Ship Turquoise might be sent to the Batinah Coast to make a counter-demon­
stration, which, however, was not acceded to.
The Sultan’s army now became completely disaffected, refusing to fight any
longer, and Seyyid Feysal was compelled to make peace. His Highness returned
to Muskat on 17th October, after a fruitless absence of a month, and Awabee
remained in the hands of Seyyid Ibrahim, to whom also hopes appear to have
been held out for the renewal cf the subsidy enjoyed by him during Seyyid
Turki’s life-time. In December, the Yal Saad, who rose against Seyyid Eeysal
during the Rostak expedition, sent messengers to Muskat to ask pardon for
their action. His Highness accepted the apology and pardoned the tribe.
A letter was received by His Highness the Sultan from Sheikh Saleh-bin-
Ali and Joomah-bin-Saeed, in which it was proposed that Seyyid Abdul Aziz
should be sent to the East Coast of Africa, there to assist the local tribes in
repelling the advances of the Germans in that quarter^ Such a course, if
successful, they said, would result in honour and fame to the Sultan, and even,
if not successful, the absence of Abdul Aziz from ’Oman would be ensured*
The writer suggested that, if necessary, the British Government should be
consulted on the point. Seyyid Feysal replied in very short and decisive terms
that he did not care to entertain the proposal for a moment, and that 8eyyid
B