Page 32 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

26 ADMIMSTEATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
reply having been returned by Sa'ccd, a brisk trade sprung up, for the better regulation of which
a new convention was signed by Sa'ccd on tho 30th March 1832. This convention appears to
have remained in force until the ncgocialion of the French Commercial Treaty of 184 4.
Daring this year, 1817, and the next, Sa’ced was entirely occupied with internal disorders*
and in contending with his naval enemies, the Kowasim, who attacked and made themselves
masters of Khor Fakan. Later on, however, the fall of Dcreych caused great alarm at ltfis-cl-
Khaimah, and the Kowasim, dreading the approach of the Egyptians, became anxious to make
an alliance with Sa'ccd against them. Sa’ced was too well advised, however, to entertain such a
proposition. The reign of piracy in the Gulf was now doomed. For twenty years the Kowasira,
notwithstanding the eiTortsof British cruisers, had maintained the sway of rapino over maritime
commerce, but the patience of the Indian Government was at length exhausted. At the close of
1819 the British expeditionary force under Sir W. G. Keir arrived at Muscat, when Sa'ced
offered to supplement it by a land force of 4,000 men and three ships of war. This was
accepted by the General, and Sa'ccd accompanied the expedition to Itas-ol-Khaimah, where
the Commander was successful in completely breaking the power of the pirato chiefs and in
arranging by treaty for the future good order and tranquillity of the whole Gulf.
A few months later a joint expedition was undertaken by the British and by Sa'ced
against the Beni Boo Ali tribe in Jaalan, tho immediate cause of which, so far as the British
were concerned, was the murder of the interpreter of tho Jtcrcury brig, winch had been de­
spatched to El Askhara to enquire into certain piratical acts committed by the tribe. On the
termination of his operations General Keir had left a force in the Gulf as a temporary mea­
sure to ensure the observance of his treaties and to preserve erder. Parts of this force, consist­
ing of six companies of Native Infantry aud six guns, was now embarked by the Political
Agent, Captain Thompson, who had resolved on immediate hostilities, and taken from Kishno to
Muscat. Sa'eed had for some years been at variance with the Beni Boo Ali tribe on account of
their having coalesced with the Wahabecs and adopted their tenets in 1811, and he bad since
been seeking for an opportunity to crush them. The expedition was undoubtedly due in part
to Sa'ccd's instigation and encouragement, and he had been allowed to join it with about 1,000
men. Captain Thompson sailed from Muscat to Soor, aud the combined force marched from
that port to the Beni Boo Ali country on the 1st November 1820. The tribes were summoned
to surrender, practically unconditionally, by Sa’ced,but refused to give up their arms, and a con­
test ensued, in which the British force was completely defeated with a loss of 6 officers, 270
men, and all the guns. The survivors retreated by way of Sharkiych and 'Oman through the
Wady Akk to Muscat, where they arrived on the 17th November. Sa’ecd displayed great gal­
lantry and coolness throughout the affair, and was wounded while endeavouring to save a
British soldier. In acknowledgment of his services a swonl of honour was presented to him
by the Governor General. To retrieve this disaster, a large force was despatchod under General
Sir Lionel Smith from Bombay in January 1821. The General attacked Beni Boo Ali in
March, and after severe fighting destroyed the forts and almost annihilated the tribe, which to
thi3 day has never recovered its former strength and prestige. Sa’ced was not permitted to
take part in this campaign, though he personally accompanied the troops. It was during his
absence from Muscat on this occasion that he had to mourn the death of his elder brother Salim,
who died of paralysis in February 1821. A large number of prisoners of the Beni Boo AH
were carried to Bombay by General Smith, where they were detained for about two years, and
were then released and sent back to 'Oman. By order of the Court of Directors intercession
was made with Sa'eed on behalf of the survivors of the tribe, for forgiveness and permission to
return to their country. This intercession on the part of the British Government roused Sa'eed's
jealousy and suspicion, and, though he yielded after some hesitation, it was only with a bad
grace.
In 1822 Captain F. Moresby, R.N., Her Majesty's ship Umax, was ordered to Mnscat to
conclude a treaty with Sa'ced for the suppression of the clave trade. Sa'ecd granted all the
concessions asked for, which would, if strictly enforced, have caused him a loss of £5,000 or
£6,000 a year.
Relieved from all troubles, foreign and domestic, and feeling that he had seomely consoli­
dated his power, Sa’ecd now undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca. He appointed his nephew,
Mohammed-bin-Salim, Regent daring his absence and sailed in the Liverpool • seventy-four,
which had been specially repaired for the voyage in Bombay, in March 1824. This journey
was performed with great pomp and magnificonce, and was most costly to Sa’eed. The Pusha
of Egypt, Mohammed Ali, sent officers to meet him, and nothing was omitted by them and the
Turkish Governor to give Sa'eed a fitting reception on hig arrival at Jeddah. On his journey