Page 217 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

MUSK AT. 175

37. Returning from his victorious career on the western frontier of
Arabia, the Wahabee, notwithstanding the truce so recently concluded,
prepared for the invasion of Oman by land and sea. A party had
already entered the province, and advanced within two days’ journey
of Burlca (the summer residence of the Imaum). The Resident at
Muskat observed on this occasion that “if the Wahabees reduced Oman,
all Arabia must submit to their yoke, and the whole coast would
become a nest of pirates, who would extend their depredations to India,
of which there was some danger, as the Imaum had disgusted all his
chiefs, and stood almost alone.”
38. The conquest of Oman was arrested by the murder of the
Wahabee Shaikh Abdool Azeez, early in the month of November; and in
the same month of the following year Syud Sultan was killed in an
engagement with the Uttoobees, joined by the Joasmees, off the bar of
Bussora river.
39. The administration of affairs on the death of Syud Sultan
devolved on his two sons. Being young and
a. d. 1804.
unprotected, their pretensions to the succession
were disputed by their uncle Syud Gheif, of Sohar, who aimed at the
usurpation of the government.
40. The death of Syud Sultan, who had maintained some degree of
control over the petty powers in alliance with
a. d. 1805.
Muskat, left these latter without any check ; the
disturbances in consequence increased. The Joasmee pirates, who
were principally the authors of them, captured two vessels (the Shannon
and Trimmer), belonging to Mr. Manesty, proceeding to Bussora
with public despatches, and treated the commanders with great severity
and cruelty; and a fleet of forty sail surrounded the Mornington cruiser,
and fired into her, but a few discharges from her great guns obliged
them to sheer off.
41. The Government of Bombay determined, in consequence, to
assist the Imaum of Muskat in chastising the Joasmees, by affording
the co-operation of our cruisers in the Gulf.
42. The authorities in the Gulf were accordingly enjoined to use
every effort to check the pirates, but to take especial care to avoid
offence to any other tribes who might not be essentially engaged in
piratical depredations.
43. The character of the Government of Muskat is so material a
consideration connected with the security of the Gulf, that a review of
the events that resulted from the death of Syud Sultan, having relation
to the succession, is not unimportant.
44. After the death of Syud Sultan, his two sons retained possession
of Muskat and the adjacent territory, but being opposed by their uncle,