Page 292 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

8 ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON TUB PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

This incident, regrettable as it was, seems to have had the effect of bruHn*
the parties to their senses, for hostilities practically ceased from that time and
on 4th March, the welcome news was received of the conclusion of peace' Aq
the hot weather and the dato season arc fast approaching, there arc somo eround!!
for hoping that this present settlement will he more lasting than its predecessors
What seems to be wanted under such a set of circumstances, is that the
Ruler should make the quarrel his own when once a truce, negotiated bv his
intervention, has been violated, and that he should come down with a heavy hand
on tho offending party. This, however, in practice entails a costly expedition
and lienee it is, no doubt, that the Sultan prefers within limitations to leave the
tribes to tilt at ono another until they tire of the game, and to hold aloof him­
self until circumstances force, him to interfere. On the score of temporarv con­
venience and economy, such a policy may have its advantages, hut it cannot
ultimately he for the best interests of the country, tbo commercial prosperity of
which must naturally bear a direct ratio to the degree of tranquillity prevalent
in the interior.
3. Sohar.—-Towards the end of (lie hot weather, Sulciman-bin-Suwoilim
the Sultan’s YTali at Sohar, created a little diversion by a small expedition on
his own account, his objective being the Tort of Buit-cl Aincin in the Dhahireh
country, about SO miles southwest of the port of Sohar. Owing to its beiuo-
advantageously situated from a strategic standpoint, this stronghold has a 1 wavs
been a coveted possession among tiie tribes, and during the last ccnturv has
many times changed hands; but for some years past it lias been held against nil
comers by the Miyniheh section of the Beni Ghaiir, and on the present occasion
Suleimau-bin-Suweilim seems to have come to some personal arrangement with
the Beni Kalbnn tribe, by which they agreed to assist him to wrest the fort from
the Miyaiheh and hold it for the Sultan.
It is believed that responsibility for the inception of these operations rested
originally with Suleiman-bin-Suwcilim personally, hut once they were started
His ilighness had to give the expedition his countenance, and to respond to
Suleiman’s appeal for assistance in the direction of money and commissariat.
The venture proved abortive, however, the Waliand his adherents being obliged
to desist after losing heavily ; and the Sultan, then realising that the fort could
not be reduced except at a heavy cost iu men and money, sent orders to his
AVali to return to Soliar.
Before quilting the subject of the politics of Oman, it must be noted that
during the year under review, the Sultan’s eldest son, Sayyid Tnimoor, has
begun to enter into public life and to help his father in small matters of internal
government.
4. British Indian subjects in Jlashat and Oman.—During the year, the
Political Agent made two sea trips to different ports of the Oman littoral, visit­
ing the small communities of British Indian traders residing at Sib, Barka,
Khabura, Luwa, Knrriyat and Sur.
During the year robberies have been committed on the premises of British
subjects at Luwa, Sur and Barka; also one trader was waylaid and looted on his
way hack from the interior, where he had been to recover debts; and one bania
of Mesnaa complained of wrongful confinement and ill-treatment by the AVali of
that port. In all theso eases the Local Government has shown a commendable
disposition to sec justice done.
In the more important case, that of wrongful confinement at Mesnaa, the
Wall was removed for that and other misdemeanours, and his deputy, who was
immediately responsible for the incident, imprisoned. In tho theft eases, the
value of tho stolon property having been investigated and assessed by a commit­
tee appointed jointly by the Sultan and the Political Agent, compensation to the
amount arrived at has been recovered from the culprits, or disbursed by the Local
Government. A second case of theft at Barka is still under investigation, and a
committee has not yet been formed, but it will shortly be disposed of.
6. Customs.—It will he remembered that last year the Sultan for the first
General.
time took tho Customs Administration under liis own control, instead of farming
it out to a contractor, the result being a satisfactory increase of revenue to n
Highness.