Page 225 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1S75-76. 75
and
a] Wahibch formed to protect Muscat. Towards tlic end of June a
disagreement occurred between Ilia Highness Syud Toorkee and Ins
brother, Abdool Azeoz, regarding the Customs farm and the conduct
of His Ili'dincss’ favourite dependent, a man named Mesh, which niter
discission resulted in the temporary dismissal of the latter from
some
Muscat.
In July a body of about five hundred of the A1 Wahibch under
Sheikh Hamood bin Said arrived at Muttrah, and having been admitted
as friends into Muscat, took advantage of IIis Highness’ position and the
plate of affairs to extort money and to impose hard conditions to which
1 {is Highness was compelled to yield. Partly in consequence of this
affair His Highness Syud Toorkee and Abdool Azeez again became
estranged and distrustful of each other.
Ontbc 10th August a fresh disagreement took place between Ilis
Highness Syud Toorkee and Syud Abdool Azeez regarding the guards
in the two forts at Muscat, and the estrangement eventually became so
complete that Ilis Highness determined on taking over the entire
control of affairs himself and dispensing with the assistance of his bro­
ther altogether. Ilis Highness, however, very soon found himself unable
to earn* on the government alone, and made a filial resolve to retire from
power in favour of bis brother. On the 15th August His Highness
Syud Toorkee, after a fresh demonstration of the Bedouins against bis
authority, betook himself ou board the Rchmani corvette and appointed
Syud Abdool Azeez to act as regent during His Highness'absence, it
being bis intention to retire to Gwadur. Svud Abdool Azeoz accord­
ingly assumed charge of the government, and Mis Highness Syud
'iourkce having embarked on board Her Majesty's Rifleman left Muscat
on the 21st August for Gwadur. The corvette Re/uuani following
after with Ilis Highness' family.
Syud Abdool Azeez in taking up the government was greatly
embarrassed in bis finances, having no funds in hand, and his only
source of revenue being the Custom-house. He bad therefore some
difficulty in getting rid of the large body of Bedouins who had by this
time collected in Muscat to the number of about twelve hundred. His
Highness was however aided in this by Sheikh Saleh bin Ali El-Harithee,
who had arrived at Muscat and entered into an arrangement to assist him
in the government.
Most of the Ilinawi tribes in the country had by this given in their
promise to support Ilis Highness' authority, but the Gbaffirees stood almost
everywhere aloof. They were jealous of the Hinawi ascendancy, and
doubtless dreaded lest they should experieucc much the same treatment
ana hostility from Syud Abdool Azeez as they had a few years before
at the hands of Syud Azan bin Kais. Cabals and coalitions continued
to take place accordingly among the Ghafiirec tribes for some time, but
nothing resulted therefrom.
In September Sheikh Saleh bin Ali left Muscat to return to El-
oharkiveh, which province he engaged to watch on behalf of Syud
Abdool Azeez. The cause of Sheikh Saleh's retirement was partly due
to a growing ill-feeling and jealousy between him and the Bn Hassan
oheils, but the stq» was in opposition to the counsel of Syud Hilal.