Page 218 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

17fi muskat.

Syucl Gheif, of Soliar, who succeeded in seizing the forts of K b
Seller, they were reduced to the necessity of entrusting the a ara and
management
of affairs to Syud Beder, their cousin, who, being
assisted by the
Wahabees, succeeded in repulsing Syud Gheif.
45. Syud Beder was a man of ability and enterprise, and
as his
connection with or dependence on the Wahabees is also
materially
connected with these inquiries, it may not be improper briefly
to advert
to the circumstances which gave rise to that connection.
46. In 1S03, Syud Beder, availing himself of the
opportunity of the
late Imaum’s absence on a pilgrimage to Mecca, made an attempt to
seize the fort of Muskat; but failing in that project, he fled to Zobara,
and sought the protection of the Wahabee Chief, who-ordered the Arab
Tribes bordering on Oman to assist Syud Beder in his ambitious views
on that country.
47. With the aid thus afforded, Syud Beder twice invaded Oman,
but, being repulsed, fled to Deriah. At the period of the death of Syud
Sultan, Beder was at Zobara, where a force was collecting to assist
him. On hearing of that event, he set out, accompanied only by a few
followers, for Ras-ool-Khyma, where he was in danger of being cut off;
but effecting his escape in a fishing-boat, he reached Oman just at the
time that his uncle Syud Gheif was besieging Muttra, and refusing to
negotiate with the late Imaum’s children upon any terms short of the
surrender of all the forts into his possession.
48. In this conjuncture, the sons of the late Imaum resolved to
resign the management of affairs to Syud Beder, who, by his influence
with the Wahabees, caused a diversion to be made by the troops of
that chief towards Sohar, which obliged Syud Gheif to retire, for the
purpose of defending his own territory ; an army of 4,000 Wahabees
having subsequently approached by sea, and a maritime torce of fifteen
vessels, for the purpose of establishing Beder in the government, and
of recovering what Syud Gheif had usurped from the late Imaum’s
children.
49. The Wahabce Chief, however, apprehending that the successful
accomplishment of these measures would render Syud Beder indepen­
dent of him, withdrew his aid, and at the same time required the riva
chiefs to await his decision. The policy of Saood seemed to e o
permit neither of those competitors establishing an ascendancy a
Muskat, but, by allowing them to exhaust their strength in 1 ®
efforts against each other, to ensure the more effectually their a tn^
an easy prey, in due season, to himself. ~ bv
50. Syud Beder at length concluded a peace witi yu a;nst
the cession of Muttra, and proceeded with a land and sea orc® g ^
Bunder Abbas, for the purpose of recovering it out ° l c