Page 249 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

MUSK AT. 207

to this quarter. The Imaum’s assistance having at this time been
solicited by either of the parties contending at Bushire (the Governor
of Pars and the hereditary chief of that port), he referred the subject for
the opinion and sentiments of the Resident, and was by him dissuaded
from the exercise of any interference whatever.
A piracy, attended with cruel and aggravated circumstances, com­
mitted on a Kutch Nowry off the Coast of Zanzibar, was traced by the
Imaum to some of the Beni Hajee Tribe, inhabitants of Soor, a place
under his authority. He seized the principal offenders, and placed
them at the disposal of the Resident, to be dealt with as he might
direct, as also an individual who had been one of the chief actors in the
piracy on a Dutch brig in 1829, and who had hitherto evaded detection.
This last was sent to the Presidency for trial, but, owing to the absence
of evidence to convict him, was returned to Muskat.
About the middle of the year 1834, a further exertion of our influence
became necessary, to check the designs of
a. d. 1834.
aggrandisement entertained by the Imaum’s
relative and dependent Humood bin Azan of Sohar, who had lately
taken possession of Rastag, on the death of the governor left in charge
of it by His Highness; and Mahomed bin Nasir, another most confi­
dential servant, likewise entrusted by him with the command of places
of strength in the interior of Oman, having died, it was feared these
might share the fate of Rastag, and that Humood bin Azan, thus in
possession of the greater part of the surrounding territory, would be­
come too powerful for the young and imbecile governors in authority
at Muskat. The Resident, therefore, on visiting that place, informed
him by letter, that if by further aggressions he placed himself in a
position of actual hostilities against the dominions of His Highness, he
would by so doing incur the penalty of being considered an enemy
of the British Government.
Nevertheless, towards the end of the year, Humood bin Azan sur­
prised, and partially gained possession of, the town and tpwers of
Soweik, at a time when the governor and his people were absent on an
incursion into the country. Great fears were entertained lest the fall of
Soweik should entail that of Musnaah and Burka, and even Muskat
itself: boats and troops being therefore immediately sent from Muskat
to its relief, Humood bin Azan was compelled to retreat, with
the loss of twenty-nine men, not, however, before he had plunder­
ed the bazar, and seized property belonging to the people of Muskat to
a. very large amount. The Muskat boats, in retaliation, plundered
several Sohar vessels, and publicly sold their cargo. The popularity
and influence of the Chief of Sohar now appeared to be continually
increasing in the province of Oman, while the imbecile conduct and