Page 38 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

32 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

A deputation from some of iho tribos at Mombasa, tired of these wars and quarrels, found
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Sa'ced preparing a third expedition, and, encouraged by this invitation, he hastened his arrange­
ments and sailed from Muscat in November 1830, arriving at Mombasa about the close of the
year. He at once summoned Rashid to surrender, but, receiving no reply, Sa'eed landed his
troops and batteries on the north side of the creek and commenced a bombardment. Taught
by experience, however, of the futility of this method, he founded his hopes upon intrigue and
by lavish expenditure soon gained over a large proportion of those opposed to him, including
Kharais and Nnsir, the uncles of Rashid. Rashid, seeing the gradual defection of hie
adherents and finding himself unable to hold out against the power of Sa'eed's purse, opened
ncgociations, and in February 1S37 a convention was concluded in the terms of the
original pact by which the fort was to be garrisoned by Sa'ced's men, and the "Wall was to
reside in the town. Sa'ecd thou appointed Ali-bin-Munsoor to command the fort with a garri­
son of 500 men, and sailed for Zanzibar. Shortly after, at Sa'ccd's invitation Rashid paid a
visit to Zanzibar and was then offered the Waliship of Pemba, or a liberal pension, if he
would relinquish his title and claim to the Wnliship of Mombasa, and quit that place with hia
family for ever.
Rashid declined the preferred baits and maintained his hereditary claim to Mombasa,
and Sa'ced failing in his attempt to get final possession of the coveted fort by purchase, devised
a plan for the extermination of the family of the Mezeni Chief, ltashid was now honourably
treated and scut back to Mombasa with presents. But two months later, Khalid, Sa'eed's
second son, was despatched to that fort with secret orders which he carried out with great
precision and success. On arrival at Mombasa, where he was received with due respect,
KhaUd landed and held a durbar iu Arab fashion at the fort gate. Rashid and the other
Mezenis attended the levee, and, after making their salutations, were desired to enter the fort
for the discussion of business. On passing in they were seizin! one by one and thrown into
prison to the number of 30. Suspicions then arose, the alarm spread, and the remainder of
the Mezara fled to to the mainland. The prisoners were immediately put on hoard and carried
by Kbalid to Zanzibar, whence Sa’eed shipped them to Bunder Abbass in one of his frigates.
Some were thrown overboard on the way, and the rest were immured and starved to death.
Sa'eed's wars at Mombasa had been marked throughout by a series of perfidies, and this cruel
murder of the gallant Rashid and his companions fittingly completed his conquest. AVith
their death the Mezen dynasty, which had lasted for over a century, and which neither the
Iiuaum Ahmed nor any of his descendants had been able to overthrow by force of arms, came
to au end.
The accession of Her Majesty Queen Victoria was an opportunity for Sa'ccd to display
his loyalty to England, which was not neglected by him. In 1838 he despatched Alibin-
Nasir as envoy to offer his congratulations, with presents of great value; and Captain Cogan,
who brought back the mission to Zanzibar, was empowered to ncgociate a commercial treaty,
which was concluded and signed in May 1S39. Very shortly after Sa'ced received letters
from the Governor at Bourbon, who had been moved by representations from French mer­
chants of commercial requirements at Zanzibar, requesting him to receive a French Consul
on the same footing as the Americans, and making overtures for a fresh treaty. Sa'eed, how­
ever, demurred to granting an exequatur to the consul, who had in fact already been appoint­
ed in anticipation until the treaty had been concluded, and the Consulate was deferred
accordingly.
Sa'eed returned from East Africa to 'Oman in September 1839, and had no sooner arrived
than he was forced to turn his attention to the adoption of measures for resisting the advance
of the Egyptians; Mohammed Ali had at this time embarked on his vain career of aggression
in Syria and Arabia, and his General, KhoorshiaJ had in December despatched Sa'eed-bin-Mutlak,
with a large force and two guns, to Bereymee. There was reason to believe that Sa'eed had
been engaged in a secret intrigue with Mohammed Ali for aid in obtaining possession of
Bahrein in return for the payment of tribute to Egypt. But under the advice of the British
Government Sa'eed dropped these schemes and evinced proofs of his determination to act
loyally in accordance with the policy of tho Government in opposing the invasion of the
Egyptian troops. In one of his interviews with Mohammed Ali in April 1810, Colonel Hodges,
the Consul-General at Cairo, desired explanations as to the object of the force under Sa'eed-bin-
Mutlak ; professions of ignorance and evasions were at first resorted to, but tho Pasha sub­
sequently admitted that the force was part of Khoorehid's army, and was intended for the
annexation of 'Oman. lie was then informed that the British Government would allow no
interference on his part with 'Oman, and would punish any attempt at encroachment. Though