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Goldsmith’s consideration by definite instructions on the express ground that Masknt was not
represented on the commission. fl ho proceedings of the* Crmmistion in no way nflVctod
any matter in dispute between Perdu and Maskat. The Political Agent should remind
IIis Highness that on a foimcr occasion the Urnbli G« vornnient declined to interfere in
respect to Charhar and t-hould inform him that it cannot interfere now. At the same time
the Political Agent should use his endeavours to dit-suude the Sultan Ironr coniine to a
collision with Persia. ”
272. These explanations were “ personally and carefully communicated ”
by the Political Agent to Syud Turlci.

(V) Question of ICciiclitioii of Cwadur to the Khan of Khclat.
273. Tliero has recently been some correspondence on a proposal to restore
Gwadur to the Khan of Kholat, one of whose ancestors is supposed to have
given it to a Maskat refugee, who after­
Political A, liny 1005, Nta 153-151.
wards became ruler of Maskat, and
there have incidently risen the question of the claims of some other parlies to
certain rights in Gwadur.
Wo shall recapitulate the history of Gwadur, in the light of recent
correspondence.
274. Gwadur, once a small village, was, as we have seen, granted by the
Khan of Khclat, NasirKhan, to Scy\id Sultan of Maskat when the. latter took
refuge in the former’s dominions from the pursuit of his brother Seyyid Said
(I7S5—97), the ruler of Maskat. There is no contemporary evidence to
show whether tho grant was a free gift in perpetuity and in sovereignty as a
fief with obligation to pay tribute or only a temporary gift for maintenance.
At any rate, it continued in possession of Seyyid Sultan after his return to
Maskat and subsequently after his succession to Seyyid Said in 1797. It
would, however, appear that the tribute in the shape of presents of slaves
and money was continued till 1S47. In 18 we find the Khan of Kholat
exacting tho tributo by force (Seo ). The payment was then
regularly made every year by the Maskat Sultans, until the death
of Nasir Khan II, which took place in 1S57 or 1858 (memorandum by Mr.
Hughes Bullor in Secret E., July 1904, Nos. 147-152). It is said also that Nasir
Khan sent an expedition for the capture of Gwadur, and that it was during
this time that the Sultan of Maskat sent Nasir Khan 16 Negro slaves, 5
female slaves and a sword. Nasir Khan’s sou Khudadad Khan sent also an
expedition, the object of which was to regain Gwadur. But apparently this
object was not attained.
275. Prom that time there has been admittedly no payment of tribute by
Maskat to Klu-lat, and Gwadur has been held by Maskat in sovereign right.
Thus from a Kholat point of view the Sultans of Maskat have been in
possession of Maskat for over 50 years as vasrals and then nearly 50 years as
absolute owners and sovereigns.
276. Besides the Khans of Khclat there are two other claimants to certain
interests in Gwadur. The Jhdedais (supposed to have descended from the
same family from which the Sultans of Maskat descend) held the reins of
power in Makran in the 17th contury. They were supplanted, as we have seen
above by the Gitchkhis, a family of Kajput origin. Both the Buledais and
Gitchkhis patronised a religious sect called Zikris, who had their principal seat
in Kech. It happened, however, it is said, that one of the Gitchkhis, Shah Omar,
turned a Mussulman, and wishing to suppress the Zikris, called in the assist­
ance of Nasir Khan I, Khan of Khclat, who practically dostroyed the sect.
As a reward for his services, Nasir Khan was given half the revenues of Kej
(which included Gwadur).
277. Now when Gwadur passed to tho Sultan of Maskat, it is maintained,
by the Gitchkhis, half its rovenucs estimated at 7,000 dollars, after deducting
the expenses of collection (1,0U0 dollars), or 3,000 dollars were paid to tho
Gitchkhis up to the time of Bibi Mariam, a JBuledni lady, who was married to
tho Gitchkhis Chief. This lady received a certain amount annually from the i
Sultan of Maskat, supposed by Ross in 1868 in charity, but it is believed it
was merely a reduced portion of the revenue. Even to this day R37 arc paid
per annum toSardar Shall Omar Gitchkhi.