Page 243 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

MUSK AT. 20 i

his power; and although lie was directed not to interfere on account
of any partial disorders in His Highness’ territories, yet lie was desired
not to permit any actio take place calculated to annihilate or seriously
weaken the Imaum’s power. In the event of an attack on Muskat
being contemplated, he was to lake measures to prevent it. Agreeably
to this intimation} the political authority despatched a vessel of war
to Muskat, with orders to assist in the defence of that place, and made
arrangements for the remainder of the squadron to proceed to the
same capital immediately certain information was received that the
town was about to be attacked. At the same time, he took measures
to prevent any of the Arabian Chiefs from acting against the territories
of His Highness, and intimated to Humood bin Azan that any attempt
upon Muskat would be viewed as an act of hostility by the British
Government.
On the 8th May 1830 His Highness the Imaum returned to Muskat
from Zanzibar, where all his plans for the re­
a. d. 1830.
duction of the island of Mombassa had totally
failed, probably in consequence of the hurried manner in which the
disturbance in his Arabian territories had called him away. On his
reaching his capital, he immediately sent away the cruiser which had
been despatched for the protection of that place, and in his communica­
tion to the British authority, announcing his return, he affected to look
upon the state of the Batinah Coast as a trifling matter, easily to be
settled. Altogether His Highness did not appear by any means
pleased at our having considered his affairs so desperate.
Previous to commencing more active operations, the Imaum in June
1830 offered Humood bin Azan the alternative of the possession of certain
districts, provided he would give up Sohar and Khaboora, or immediate
war. His proposal was refused, and an intimation given by the
revolted chief that he was prepared to stand by the consequences. His
Highness accordingly left Muskat on the 12th June, and proceeded to
Burka, accompanied by two frigates. On his arrival there he com­
menced assembling an army, with the intention of proceeding to the
attack of Sohar. In the meanwhile Syud Hillal was still detained a
prisoner, and was told that the surrender of the fort of Soweik was
the only condition on which his liberty would be granted.
After an unsuccessful attempt to bombard and blockade Sohar, as
well as to collect forces, His Highness found that the Arabian Tribes in
Oman were determined not to afford him their cordial support in his
plan for bringing that place once more under his own dominion; he
therefore concluded an agreement with Shaikh Humood, by which he
ceded to that chief the districts of Khizza, Khaboora, Markies, and
Sohar, for the payment of an annual tribute of 8,000 German
crowns.