Page 131 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

35
the Muscat State (lag was hoisted And A building occupied on shore for the
purpose.
Prior to this Sheikh Ali had been clearly informed that by his rebellious
conduct he had torfcited all claim to the previous generous terms offered to him
by Ills Highness.
lie was now warned that the establishment of the customs house at Aina
was not the sole matter for consideration, but that any terms afforded to him
would be entirely dependent on his And his tribe’s futui'e lovulty and good
behaviour.
Having attained the main object of the operations, the expedition returned
to Muscat on the 10th March.
During the remainder of thc^ear, though no overt act has been committed
by Sheikh Ali or the Beni bu All, the former has continued to address
- _ most
unsatisfactory letters periodically to the Sultan and, and as his unconditional
loyalty is still open to suspicion, he has been paid none of his former allowances
to date.
Gwaihir.'—In April Mr. Shaukat Ali, the well-known Indian leader, took
it upon himself without either invitation or permission from His Highness, to
visit Gwadur to establish peace between the Baluch community—i.c., the
Sullan’s subjects—and the Khoja community, Who arc Briiish subjects.
This unwarranted intrusion into his state affairs aroused considerable
indignation on the part of His Highness the Sultan. A wodus vivendi between
the communities having already been established by the Sultan and the Political
Agent, Mr. Shaukat Ali’s visit was somewhat abortive and he took his depar­
ture after being good enough to send a congratulatory telegram to His High­
ness. Further action Was therefore deemed unnecessary.
In June 3932, Esa, son of Dilmurad, the Baluch outlaw who had been
imprisoned and subsequently exiled in 1929, for his connection in the murder
cuse of Khoja .Ghulam Ali, a British subject, returned to Gwadur.
On the urgent representation of the British Agent he was forced to quit
Gwadur territory,
On 17th November however this individual again arrived in Gwadur and
after passing the night in the town, on the morning of the 18th, committed a
murderous assault on Bana Ibrahim, a Khoja British subject.
Owing to the undoubted connivance of the Baluch element in the town and
the gross slackness of the Wali, Esa not only managed to evade arrest, but
continued more or less openly in the town and its vicinity for three days after
the event.
His Highness the Sultan, early in December, deputed his uncle Saiyid Malik
and K. B. Ahmed Shubaily his private Secretary to proceed to Gwadur to con­
duct a searching investigation.
At the close of the year the case was still under investigation.
Except for the foregoing, and a few incidents of lesser import, the tran­
quillity of His Highness’ State remained undisturbed throughout the year.
Among the latter category howover allusion may be made to the follow­
ing
(a) In March Sheikh Hussan, the late Sheikh of Khasab, who had been
directed to reside in Muscat on his release from detention in
November 1931, was permitted to reside in Debai on parole.
He shortly afterwards broke his parole, and escaped to Khasab but
was subsequently arrested and sent to Muscat by the Sheikh of
Debai. He has since been deported to Gwadur.
(b) Tn August a fracas occurred between, the Bani Battah and Bani
Wahib near Swakim, the latter tribe losing some Sheikhs enp-
tured.
Tho Bani Battah withdrew to their homes before the State authorities
could intervene.
<c) A customs clerk in tho employ of tho State, and his wife wore mnr-
rlf.rod nt Sib in September. The offenders are known to be Omanis
but repeated application to Sheikh Isa bin Saleh by the Sultan for
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