Page 167 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

BESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1000-1001. 15
cleverly eluded the men sent to arrest him, and for some timo remained in
security; being, however, friendless and homeless, he was finally reduced to
claiming sanctuary iu the Sultan’s palace and abjectly begging pardon for his
past misdeeds. On the 12th of August a serious brawl took place in the
bazar at tbo port of Sceb between the Beni Haiyieh and the Awlad Iiadeed,
which resulted in some loss of life. Fortunately, however, effective measures
were taken bofore the disturbance gained any serious proportions; howbeit the
bazar was closed for some days by reason of it, and the contending parties
continued to behave riotously when opportunity offered. In the absence of
the Sultan in the interior, Saiyid Mahomed-bin-Turki, who was in charge of
affairs at Maskat,on the receipt of the news at Seeb (which is but 20 odd miles
from Maskat), promptly despatched 50 Wahabis under Saiyid Badr-biu-Seif to
put down the disturbance and make peace between the combatants. Mean­
while the news had also reached the Sultan at his camp in tile Simail valley,
and he hurriedly marched from thence to Seeb to settle the matter himself.
A day or two later 13 of tho ringleaders were sent into Maskat by him for
incarceration.
6. In October Shaikh Isa-biu-Salck-el-Harthi, son of the leader tff the
rebellion of 1895, in company with his brother Earned and Shaikh Mohsin-
bin-Amr, brother of Hilal-bin-Amr, arived at Simail ostensibly with the object
of paying complimentary visits to the Shaikhs of the Beni Uuwaheh and
Beni Jabar, but in reality to make overtures for the active support of these
two tribes in the event of auy move being made by tho Sharkiya tribesmen
against Maskat. The emissaries, however, signally failed in their erraud and
were not even able to secure a promise of neutrality, owing no doubt to tho
fortunate fact that the Sultan in his recent tour in tho Simail valley had
managed to win over to his allegiance Shaikh Saeed-hin-Abdulla, a powerful
leader of the Beni Ituwaheh and son of the famous Kalili, who in 18G9 assisted
Azzan-bin-Kais to assume power in Maskat and thus break the line of succes­
sion of the descendants of tho great Saiyid Sultan. Having failed in his
object, Isa-bin*Saloh ondeavoured to whitewash himself by addressing a letter
to the Sultan through the Wali of Simail conveying his respects to His High­
ness, and asking permission to pay him a visit at Maskat. The Sultan, not
believing in his professions of amity, sent him a civil reply, thanking him for
his good intentions, but at the same time discouraging him from coming into
Maskat at present. Shaikh Isa and his companions thereupon returned to
their head-quarters in the Sharkiya.
6. In November Saiyid Saeed-bin-Ibrahim Kais took upon himself to dam
the irrigation canals used to convey w'ater to the date groves of the Ibrieen at
Awabi, on account of the nonpayment by them of the “ Zakat 99 or land tax.
The Tcmimeh of the Ibriecn thereupon assembled his tribesmen, and supported
by 300 of them blockaded the fort of Awabi, then in the possession of Saeed-
bin-lbrabim, who at once applied to the Sultau for assistance in men and
money to enable him to beat off his assailants. In response to his call
the Sultan ordered Mahomed-biu-Hamed to proceed at once to Awabi and
endeavour to bring the parties to a settlement without bloodshed. On arrival,
however, Saiyid Mahomed found the garrison much pressed and the besiegers
in no mood to come to terms. He reported to the Sultan accordingly with all
despatch, and thereupon His Highness at once started for the Batineh in person,
but on arrival at Seeb he met runners from the scene of action with letters for
him to the effect that the Ibricen bad taken possession of the fort, the garrison
having fled without a fight. The Ibrieen now offered to make over the fort to
the Sultan or to hold it for him ; but the latter thought it wisest not to put faith
in their promises, but to garrison it with Wahabis, which he accordingly did.
7. In December dissensions arose between the Beni llyam and the Yemen of
Zikki, the former being the aggressors. The reason for the collision proved to be
that the Beni Eyam had attempted to build a new fort at Zikki, whioh would
in fact give them control over the roads leading to that place and constitute
a permanent menace to the members of the Yemen also residing there. Any
alteration of the status quo was equally injurious to the interosts of the Sultan
also, and ho accordingly addressed the Beni Kuwabeh and enjoined them to
take the advice of the Wali and revert to the old order of things. A few days
later be was gratified to receive from bis Wali a letter reporting that be bad