Page 27 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1S8W4.
2*
Khalfan-bin-Ahmed, having refused to surrender the fort, Seyf laid siege to it and would pro­
bably have compelled it to yield, had not Hamrd, who had been desjatchef by hia father, Sa'eed*
on an expedition to extend and consolidate hia African possession, arriTcd in tirae to raise the
siege. Soyf then retired to Xarnoo, where he died. Bcdr appears to have inherited hia father's
stem and ambitious character. No sooner had he reached manhood than he imitated his
schemes. In 1S03, while Sultan was absent on pilgrimage, Bcdr entered Muscat in disguise,
and endeavoured by stratagem to get posscssiou of Fort Jc-lali: the plot, however, was discovered
by a Baman, who reported it to the Wali, and Bedr fled to Zobara, where he put himself under
the protection of tho Wahabces and embraced their tenets. He proceeded subsequently to
El-Dcraych to obtain aid from the Amir against Sultdn, and, on his return from Nejd with a
promise of support, heard of Sultau's death and received the invitation from Salim and his ad­
visers to join them at Muscat. Bcdr, feeling confident that if he could once make good his foot­
ing in Muscat he would be able, eventually, to supplant his cousins, and secure the supremacy
without incurring the risk and unpopularity of an open contest for power under Wahabcc auspices,
eagerly accepted the proposal and set out for 'Oman. He arrived at a critical juncture. Kais
was strengthening his position, and the hopes of Sultan's eons were growing fainter and fainter,
whenBc-dr's energy came to their aid and reversed the situation. Bcdr at once called in his friends
the Waliabees, and the Wahabce leader, willing to facilitate the accession to power of Bcdr in the
hope that he would thus become bound to them more closely’, despatched a force against Sohar.
This diversion had its intended effect Kais was compelled to make terms with Bedr and
hasten home. Tile conditions were that Kais should withdraw bis claims to sovereignty and
retain as bis share Khabooreh and part of the Batineh as additions to his appenage of Sohar.
The peace proved a hollow affair, and was but of short duration. A mouth later Kais found a
pretext to renew hostilities and marched on Muscat, which he captured aud plundered. He was
unable, however, to retain his position there, and, fearing the approach of Glnffiree reinforce­
ments to Bcdr, was glad to retire with the addition of Mattrah to his former acquisitions, and
an allowance of one thousand dollars a month. By this time the rivalship of the other uncles
and cousins had melted away before the vigorous measures of Bedr, and Kais alone remained
to contend with him for supremacy in the field. Before a year had elapsed Bedr had clearly
made himself master of the situation in 'Oman aud had begun to show his hand as regards
his designs against his young cousins, Salim and Sa'eed, whom he had in fact already excluded
from Muscat by sending Salim as Wali to Mesna'ab and Sa'ecd to Barka. Bedr's designs in
all probability were not penetrated by Salim, who seems to have accepted his position con-
tentedly enough, but the more subtle and ambitious Sa'tcd winced at the way in which he had
been set aside and harboured revenge.
On the death of Sultan advantage had been taken of the general confusion occasioned by
the disputed succession by Moolla Hoossein-el Maeeni, Shaikh of Kishm, to assault and
capture Bunder Abbass, and, bis bands being free for the tirae, Bedr now sailed for that port
with, the object of recovering it. Captain Seton, the British Resident in the Gulf, who had
been engaged in blockading the Kowasim pirates, accompanied him with two armed vessels,
and succeeded in re-establishing Bedr in possession of the place, in retnm for which service
certain concessions were granted by Bedr to the English.
This happened in the autumn of 1805, and Bedr had no sooner returned to 'Oman than
he found himself again involved in hostilities with Kais. In nuking his third and final
attempt on Muscat Kais procured the support of Moolla Hoosein of Kishni and of the
Kowasim, and was allowed to occupy and plunder the outskirts of the town' unopposed.
Bedr pursued his old tactics of inducing the Wakabees to threaten Sohar, while the yonug
Sa'eed raided and recovered Bidbid and Fauja. The result of the campaign was disastrous to
Rais' hopes; he found he had miscalculated his strength and had no alternative but to purchase
peace by surrendering Mattrah and his allowance, and retreating to &>har.
Since the death of Sultan, who alone had offered anything like a successful resistance to
them, 'Oman had fallen into a state of subjection to the Wahabees, whose preponderating
influence in the country was now complete. The payments of tribute had been forced upon
Sultan, but Bedr had for his own aggrandisement submitted to further humiliations, and the
’Omanis were galled at witnessing his submission to tho dictation of the Wahabee Agent at
Muscat. A force of 400 mounted Wahaboea bad been stationed at Barka in the time-of
Sultfinto overawe the neighbouring country, and was still maintained there, whilst, in addition,
the observance of the Wahabee tenet and strict attendance at prajer* were now everywhere
enforced.
Tho growing strength, pretensions, and aggressive behaviour of the Wshohees hid crested