Page 82 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

n REPORT ON ADMINISTRATION OF THE

Administration Report of the Political Agency, Muscat, for the
year 1873-74.
Political.—The close of the official year 1872-73 saw tranquillity
prevailing in nearly all parts of the principality of Oman, the political
horizon comparatively clear of clouds, and the situation altogether much
more favourable for IIis Highness Syud Toorkce than it had been at the
commencement of that year. His Highness’ nephew, Syucl Salim bin
Thowcynee, after protracted efforts to overthrow Ilis Highness’ authority,
had found himself unable to organize a sufficiently powerful combination
of the tribes for this purpose, and despairing of success had embarked
at Soor and proceeded to Bombay; and with the exception of Syud
Ibrahim bin Kais, who still held possession of Sohar aud some other
forts in the Batinah, no rival now remaiued in the couutry who could
cause Syud Toorkee any great anxiety or trouble.
The first notable event of the. year was the mission of Ilis Excel­
lency Sir Bartle Frere, G.C.S.I., who had been appointed by Her
Majesty’s Government Special Envoy for the purpose of negotiating
more stringent treaties for the suppression of the East African slave-
trade. His Excellency, accompanied by Colonel Pelly and suite, arrived
at Muscat from Maculla and Zanzibar in Her Majesty’s Ship Enchantress
on the 12th April, and wras received with much cordiality and frankness
by Syud Toorkee, with whom a new Slave Treaty was speedily and satis­
factorily entered into. The mission made only a short stay of four
days and left for India on the lGth April. An important result to the
Sultan of this mission was the decision of Her Majesty’s Government
to guarantee the payment of the annual subsidy of §40,000 awarded
by Lord Canning in 1861 to be paid by the Ruler of Zanzibar to the
Ruler of Muscat. This seasonable increase of income was a great relief
to His Highness whose embarrassments had continued to be a source
of much auxiety to him.
During the same month of April Syud Nasir bin Ali A1 bu Saidi,
the Wullee or Governor of Muscat, was unfortunately murdered in his
house on the night of the 14th by two assassins who are supposed to
have belonged to the tribe Beni Ruweyeh and to have committed the
deed in revenge for the death of Sheikh Khalcelee.
Sometime in May a serious collision took place between the El
Naim and Beni ICelban tribes of El Dhahireh in. which the latter were
worsted with a loss of more than 40 men. The cause of the contention
was the fort of Bu Einem which the El Naim had sometime previously
taken possession of.

At this time Saeed Abdool Azeez bin Saeed and Syud Salim were
residing in Bombay, but on tbe 1st June it was reported by the Com­
missioner of Police that they bad left almost simultaneously in bugalows
and were supposed to have proceeded to the Persian Gulf or Mekran
Coast.
Early in tbe same month Syud Feysul bin Ilamood of El Rostak
gave over the fort of El Ilazam in the Batinah to Syud Ibrahim bin
Kais, who thereupon came down from Sohar and assumed possession of it.
Tbe Acting Political Resident, Persian Gulf, Colonel Ross, arrived
at Muscat on a tour on the 30th June.