Page 260 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

218 MUSK AT.

tribes: they however forsook the place, and returned to their homes.
Such was the defenceless state of Muskat, such the lethargy of her
inhabitants, when she was threatened by the Wahabecs. Her
fate seemed inevitable ; when the Resident stretched forth a help­
ing hand. On the 25th June 1845 he addressed a letter to
the Wahabee Artiecr, remonstrating against his proceedings in
Oman, and begging him, if he valued the friendship of the British
State, not to permit His Highness the Imaum’s dominions to be thus
invaded. He likewise wrote to Syud bin Mootluk, desiring him to
suspend hostilities, pending the receipt of further instructions from his
chief, the Ameer. Meanwhile, also, the ships of war were sent to cruise
off* the Coast of Batinah, and, by constantly showing themselves,
manifested the interest felt by the British towards their ally, the Imaum.
At this conjuncture, too, while affairs were in so critical a position,
fresh advices reached Syud Soweynee from his father, empowering
him, if driven to extremities, to pay to the Wahabce an annual
tribute of 6,000 crowns, and desiring him to keep on the best of terms
with the Sohar Chief.
The intervention of the Resident, coupled with the opportune arrival
of the above instructions, had, no doubt, a salutary effect upon the
Wahabee, and inclined him to come to terms more moderate than he
probably otherwise would have done; for we find the Ameer hastening
to reply to the Resident’s communication, and expressing the great
feeling of friendship he bore to the British Government ; and although
he dilated somewhat largely upon his rights to exercise authority over
the province of Oman, there can be no doubt he felt and knew that it
would be wiser far to waive some portion of his asserted claims, and
come to a modified settlement with His Highness the Imaum, than to
attempt carrying out his intention to the full, and thereby incur the
displeasure of the British power. Whatever his feelings may have
been,—whatever his motives,—the matter ended more favourably for the
Muskat authorities than they had any right to expect, or deserved. His
Excellency Syud Soweynee engaged in the name of his father to pay
an annual tribute of 5,000 German crowns, besides a present on
this occasion of 2,000 German crowns to Syud bin Mootluk, which
made a total of 7,000 German crowns for the first year, a sum
exceeding by 1,000 the amount authorised by the Imaum. The
Wahabee forces were withdrawn ; Mujees, a dependency of the Sohar
Chief, that had been illegally seized upon, was restored, and peace
was established.
Scarcely had the above settlement been effected, when distur a^ce
arose in other quarters. The people of Khuthra (a branch of t e em

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