Page 257 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

MUSKAT. 215

Presents in money to a considerable amount have been sent up by
Ilis Highness the Imaum from Zanzibar to all
A. D. 1844.
the maritime chiefs, his object being to secure
their assistance next year in an expedition he has in contemplation
against his rebellious subjects of Seevee, who have lately defeated, with
great slaughter, a force sent by him to reduce them to obedience.

CONCLUSION, TO THE YEAR 1S53,

BY LIEUTENANT DISBROWE, ASSISTANT RESIDENT, PERSIAN GULF.
We learn from the termination of Captain Kernball’s Historical
Sketches of the Muskat Government, that His
a. d. 1844.
Highness the Imaum was at this lime meditating
an expedition against his rebellious subjects of Seevee, and had been
striving, by presents of money, to induce the maritime chiefs of the
Arabian Coast to assist him in the undertaking.
The plan was not lost sight of, nor did the Arab Chiefs fail to
espouse His Highness’ cause ; for towards the latter end of December,
we find that troops to the number of one thousand left for Zanzibar in
the ship Naseerce and five JBuggalows, the whole commanded by
Humeed bin Ahmed. To these must be added the auxiliaries from the
Arabian Coast, consisting of “the nephew of Abdoolla bin Rashid,
Chief of Amulgavine, with fifty men; Ali bin Rashid bin Humeed,
brother to the Ejman Shaikh, in his own Buteel, with sixty men ; and
Muktoom bin Butye, of Debaye, with three vessels.” The result of the
expedition we shall learn in the sequel.
Aboutthis period (November 1S44) the Imaum concluded aTrealy with
the King of the French. “A French squadron, commanded by Captain
De Fosse, arrived at Zanzibar, armed with full powers to enter into a
treaty with His Highness.” The latter had already communicated with
the British Ministry, in order to obtain their sentiments on the proposed
measure; and an intimation having reached him, through Captain Ha-
merton, that no objections existed to his entering into relations with
the French, the Treaty* with that nation was at once concluded.
During the absence of His Highness at Zanzibar, whither he had
proceeded on a visit to his African possessions, the Government of
Muskat was left in the hands of his son Syud Soweynee, a man of a
temperament singularly weak and vacillating,—one totally unfit and
* Copy of this Treaty is annexed.

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