Page 75 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

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Re-opening Old Territory

Du. Louis I*. Damk
s OJMli of the older readers of Najlcctcd Arabia will recall some of

the reports given in past years of tours through various parti o|
Oman. The trips made by Dr. Cantine, by the Revs. I\ Zweiucr,,
Barney, Moerdyk, Pennings and by Dr. Bennett and Harrison ire
historic in the annals of the Arabian Mission. Perhaps too you rcuB
the name of Ibrahim, our Colporteur, who for years traveled all thruuij
Oman and received men from all parts of Oman as guests in his liuoc
in Muscat. .
These readers, like most of us missionaries, no doubt considered Onu*
an open province. Yet the facts make it appear entirely different.
The causes for the closing of Oman are purely political. The interim;
sheikhs, dissatisfied with the Sultan of Muscat, broke away from
rule, set up their own government, appointed an Imam or religious 1k*4
and for years were at open enmity with the Sultan and the inhabitant*
of the strip of land along the coast known as the Battina.
When four years ago a treaty was made whereby peace was declare
between the inland sheikhs and the government of Muscat, there wo* *
once an increase of trade and traffic. Also we in Bahrain at once (cfc
an increase in the number of patients coming from the inland of Onua
to the Mason Memorial Hospital. The Omanies are a particularly friendly
people. They are much more cordial than the Nejdies and are ca*icj
to make acquaintance with. So after some time, having learned frua
them considerable about their country, their larger towns, date growix*
districts, their ruling sheikhs, and other matters. I sent a letter with 4
returning party of patients to Sheikh Isa bin Saalah, who according 1%
these patients, is the most powerful sheikh in Oman. 1 inhumed lu«
that we in Bahrain were ready to help him in any way possible, tuul uj
of his subjects who needed treatment or operations would receive a nv*
hearty welcome. More people kept coming and on several^ occasion* 1
repeated my offer. Finally a patient came from the Sheikh’s town *iu
a' letter from the Sheikh. He had received my letters and was scinlu*
“so and so” for treatment. That man, on his return, carried another
letter from me. Soon after a nephew of the Sheikh and two retainer*
came, all needing operations. They too, upon their return, carried 4
letter. This time I asked that I might be allowed to visit their cuumrj
to treat the many people who no doubt needed treatment but ujuld 04
afford to come to Bahrain. This was answered in an evasive uegamt
This sort of correspondence kept on till the Sheikh said that if \vc cixa*
to the coast and remained there for a stay, he could send Mime uf h*
people to us for treatment or perhaps he would then ask us to come ^
Karlv last summer 1 wrote saying that towards the end of the summer t
hoped to make a medical tour to Oman and would establish m|gel( lttu^
likely in one of the towns on the coast, that l would inform lmn of J
arrival and hoped an invitation to his country would then be furthamuJ
An answer came saying he would be glad to hear of our estublLhmcat 2
one of the coast towns. \
It can readily be seen that not much progress had been made if:*]