Page 26 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

20 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

APPENDIX A to PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE SEYYID SA’EED-BIN SULTAN IMAM OF MUSCAT,
BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S. B. MILES. .
The sudden and premature termination of the career of the Ruler of 'Oman, Sultin-bin-
Ahmcd in November 1804, after a reign of ten years, was a calamity to his country. An able
and sagacious politician, and strong enough to maintain fair order among his turbulent people,
he was well qualified to guide his country through the troublous times on which it had fallen,
and, usurper though he was, he had como to bo universally recognised by all parties as their
fittest leader.
His death was a signal for rivalries and intestine disorders of nil kinds, which, after a
struggle of three years' duration, were to result in the power falling to the youngest of the
many claimants.
According to the Arab custom the succession to Chieftainship is ruled by the interests and
requirements of the people, rather than by the individual rights of members of the family in
which the dignity may be hereditary. This leads to disputed successions, and it usually happens
that the longest sword elects the prince.
On this occasion the question was complicated by the recency of the dynasty. Barely
thirty years had elapsed since the founder had died, leaving a number of descendants, each of
whom could fairly claim, as each doubtless deemed himself the fittest for the succession.
The situation of the various aspirants to power was briefly as follows :—
The Imam Ahmed-bin-Sa'ecd had left seven sons, of whom Hilal, the eldest, was already
dead, having succumbed to the climate of Sind some years before, leaving a son named Ali, now
about thirty years of age. The second and now eldest surviving son, Sa'ecd, had been elected
Imam on the death of his father in 1775, hut, having become unpopular and almost imbecile,
had resigned power to his son Haraed, on whose death in 1792 it had been usurped by Sultdn.
Kais, the third son, had been appointed TTali of Sobar by his father, an appointment which had
been confirmed by Sa'eed. Being the most active and ambitious of Ahmed's surviving child­
ren, he took up arms immediately on hearing of Sultan's death, and was first in the field. Seyf,
the fourth son, had died in Africa, leaving a son named Bcdr, who had rebelled against his uncle
Sultan, and who was now to become for a time the de facto ruler. Talib, the sixth son, was
residing at Rostak with the Imam Sa'eed, and Mohammed, the youngest, was Wali of
Soweyk.
The youngest of the competitors were the children of Sultan, of whom, the eldest, Salim,
was now barely fifteen, and as they had nothing in their favour but the prestige acquired by
their father and the possession of Muscat, which had been made by Sultan the capital in place
of Rostak, their chances of success were by no means promising.
When starting on his Basrah expedition, in which he lost his life, Sult&n bad appointed
Mohammed-bin-Nasir-bin-Mohammed Eljabri regent and guardian of his sons, and on Moham­
med now devolved the oonduct of affairs on their behalf. He saw at once that he was not in
a position to assume the offensive, and that he had no resource but to remain quiet and en­
deavour to hold the capital against attack. He busied himself, therefore, in putting Muscat and
Mattrah into a state of defence, and in calling in the friendly Ghaffiree tribes of Nakhl and
Dhabireh to his assistance. The news of Sult£n’s death had spread rapidly through the country,
and Kais, at once resolving to make a bold stroke for power, which he expected to be able to
dash from the hands of his nephews without difficulty, lost no time in collecting his forces.
In conjunction with his brother Mohammed he marched along the Batineh to Muscat,
took Khabooreh on the way, and skirting Mesnaah and Barka moved on to Mattrah, which,
being bnt faintly defended, he soon made himself master of. His success gained him friends,
and Mohammed Nasir finding his position becoming desjierate, sued for terms and offered to re­
linquish Khabooreh to Kais, and grant him a monthly allowance of dollars 2,000, if he would
retire. The terms were refused. Kais, deeming bis chance of success good, continued the con*
test and maintained his hold on Mattrah.. From this position Mohammed Nasir could not
dislodge him, and, with the advice of Soilin'* sister, Moza, and other adherents, he decided to
caU in the aid of Bedr-bin-Seyf. Bedr was Salim's cousin. His father Seyf had intrigued
against the Imam Sa'eed, hut unsuccessfully, and, having resolved to try his fortunes in East
Africa, set out, with a small following, for Zanzibar in the year 1784. The VTali of that town,