Page 226 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

70 ADMINISTRATION RETORT OF T1IE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

In the beginning of November rumours were received of a meditated
raid on Muscat by Sheikh Ilamcyd bin Khalifeen of the A1 Wahiboli,
but the report was exaggerated, and the intentions of Sheikh Ilamcyd
were frustrated by the intervention of Saleh bin Ali.
In the Fame month an event occurred in El Sharkiyeh, in which
three of the 15u IIassail were slain by a party of the A1 Wahiboh,
thereby establishing a blood-feud between these tribes which still
remains open.
On the 11th December 11 is Highness Syud Abdool Azeez left
Muscat to proceed to Semail with the object, it. is believed, of replacing
the Gbnfliree garrison of that fort with a Ilinawi one, and Ilis Highness
was still absent from Muscat when His Highness Syud Toorkec
unexpectedly arrived at Multrah on the night of the 13th in a native
boat and succeeded in occupying that town and the forts commanding
it without opposition. At this juncture Muscat was in charge of the
Governor, Syud Mahomed Azan, and a small garrison of about sixty
13u llassan, who on hearing of Ilis Highness Syud Toorkec's arrival
resolved to hold out and defend the place until orders had been received
from His Highness Syud Abdool Azeez. They were repeatedly called
on to submit but declined, and negotiations with them carried on by
11 is Highness Syud Toorkec proved fruitless. In the meantime
Ilis Highness Syud Abduol Azeez wrote to the Governor of Muscat,
requesting that the defence be continued, as he was collecting men and
coming to th« ir aid. Ilis Highness had been growing increasingly
unpopular f-.-r some time, and he seems to have miscalculated his power,
as he was not able to gather suliicicnt force to leave Semail. His chief
supporter, Saleh bin Ali, was not expeditious in joining him, and when
at b ngth Saleh moved out of Sharkiyeh, it was too late to avail any
thing On the 10th His Highness Syud Toorkce, who had been joined
by a force of Ghaflirees from Xakhl, occupied the suburbs of Muscat,
ami firing continued for two days between his men and the town without
any loss to either side. On the 21st the garrison offered to surrender
and negotiations being completed, Ilis Highness Syud Toovkec entered
the town with his troups and resumed charge of the government. The
fir>t 6t<*p of His Highness Syud Toorkee after assuming power
was to appoint Syud Said bin Mahomed his Minister and chief
adviser. His Highness also abolished some petty imposts and duties
that bad been imposed by His Highness Syud Abdool Azeez, and
continued to aduerc to bis former general policy of conciliation.
At the end of December Ilis Highness Svud Abdool Azeez, finding
himself without funds and unsupported, left Semail and proceeded to join
Sheikh Saleh in El Sharkiyeh. llefore leaving Semail however, he had
sent to His Highness Syud Toorkec, offering to come in and make
terms through the mediation of the Political Agent A satisfactory reply
was returned by Syud Toorkee offering terms on the basis of Abdool
Azeez retiring from Oman, but Abdool Azeez bad left Semail without
awaiting a reply to bis message. Ilis Highness Syud Abdool Azee*
soon after changed his residence to Seme<L
Tti February Ilis Highness Syud Toorkec began negotiations for
the surrender of the furt at Seuiail, which was still in possession of