Page 618 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

24 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN QT7LP POLITICAL

About the same time fresh rumours of another projected rising of the
8harkiyyeh tribes reached Muscat and Shaikh Saleh-bin-Ali, who, strange to say,
has remained faithful and friendly throughout to the present Sultan, wrote on
the 20th of December warning him of their design. His Highness Sayid
Feysal, now believing in the rumours, lost no time in reinforcing the garrisons
of Muscat and Muttrah whilst Sliaik Saleh sent a direct message to the Chiefs
in charge of the several passes to prepare for the enemy. Ao it was supposed
at firet that Sayid Ibrahim-bin-Keis of Rustak would join the coalition of
the tribes, and lend his assistance to the scheme, the Sultan made his prepara­
tions accordingly, so that about tbe end of January he had nearly 2,000 men at
his command. In the meantime, Shaik Hamud-al-Jabafi who seems to have
been the prime exciter of this revolt, proceeded with about 150 men from the
8harkiyyeh and reached Rustak on the 7th of January, where he evidently pre­
vailed upon 8ayid Ibrahim to give countenance to the cause by sending his
nephews, Hamud and Sa’ud, the sons of the late Iman Azzan-bin-Keis, with 15
men to join the party.
It was evidently Sayid Abdul Aziz’s intention to take a more direct
route to Rui near Muttrah, where by a previous arrangement he was tb join
tho advanced party headed by Shaik Hamud, but after making fruitless at­
tempts at all the passes leading to the Batineh, he had to retire discomfited
once more to Samad.
While Sayid Abdul Aziz was making these vain attempts, the failure of
which was mainly due to Shaik Saleh’s friendly assistance and tbe energetic
and unwearied efforts of Rashid-bin-Aziz the Wali of Samail, Shaikh Hamud,
now aided and countenanced by the presence of the two sons of Sayid Aczan
in his camp, marched through the Batineh, attacked a hamlet near Burkeh on
the night of the 10th of January and afterwards set about raiding and plun­
dering the country around. He then arrived at Gobra where he encamped
awaiting Sayid Abdul Aziz’s arrival.
Directly the object with which Rashid-bin-Aziz had been despatched to
the front to watch the several passes and to inspire courage and zeal into the
minds of the garrisons guarding them, was accomplished by Sayid Abdul
Aziz falling back upon Samad, he was recalled to Muscat to deal with the
danger nearer home. Rashid returned to Muscat on the 16th January, bring­
ing with him 500 men of the lal-Waheebh who were now posted at Wattayeh
partly to watch and partly to keep the enemy’s force in check. The short­
sightedness of this policy was however soon apparent, for on the one hand tbe
new reinforcements refused to fight or take any serious action against their own
tribesmen on the opposite side, and on the other the leading Gafree tribes sta­
tioned in Muscat were afraid to leave their post and march against 8haikh
Hamud, lest their departure might give the Hinawis a chance of forming a
coalition, against them and placing the Sultan in a worse position than ever.
This state of inactivity soon came to an end for 8ayyid Abdul Aria, now
taking advantage of the absence of Rashid-bin-Aziz from the passes, suddenly
made his appearance with 17 men in the Samail Yalley near Fanjah and wa*
reported to be on the 20th of January fairly on his way to join Hamud’s party.
The Sultan was therefore compelled to adopt a more active course, and accord­
ingly on the 26th, whilst he sent his younger brother 8ayyid Fahad by land,
himself proceeded in person by sea to Seeb where the enemy was supposed to
he quartered. The news of these measures had, however, already preceded their
being carried out, so that on his arrival at Seeb the Sultan found that both
8eyyid Abdul Aziz and Qamud had proceeded more inland; he therefore
returned to Muscat, leaving the land party now commanded by Seyyid Fahad