Page 272 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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MUSKAT.
Muskat. Syud Ghes now hastened to join the force of Shaikh Sul
tan, and on his arrival, the combined armies laid siege to Shinas"
The resistance offered by Shaikh Kahtan bin Syf was stout and obsti-
nate,—he well sustained his reputation for courage and valour; and
had Syud Soweynee ably supported him, he might have been
spared the pain of surrender. His munitions, however, ran out,
ineffectual attempts were made to introduce fresh supplies, and on
the 10th May 1S50 Shinas was compelled to
a. d.1850.
surrender. Khore Fukaun shared the same fate,
after a siege of two days ; Ghulla had already fallen ; and thus, in an
incredibly short space of time, did the whole of the Batinah Coast, from
Merya to Cape Musseldom, fall into the hands of the Joasmee Chief
and Syud Ghes bin Azan.
The season of the pearl fishery was now at hand, and all parties be­
came anxious for a temporary cessation of hostilities. The troops of
Shaikh Sultan therefore returned to Ras-ool-Khyma, and through the
mediation of the A1 Saeed was a four months’ truce effected between
Syud Soweynee and his kinsman Syud Ghes bin Azan.
Let us now revert to the prisoner, Syud Humood bin Azan, and in­
quire how he fared in his dungeon. The treatment he experienced at
the hands of Syud Soweynee was of a very severe character : he was
loaded with chains, and confined in a place of heat unbearable; no
liberty, no comforts, no freedom from restraint, was accorded him;
health gave way, and nature quickly sank under such cruel usage.
When the news of his brother’s death reached Syed Ghes, his fiery
temper became inflamed with exceeding rage : he burned for revenge ;
and eagerly sought fora victim whereon to vent his fury. He sought
not in vain : the brave and courageous Shaikh Kahtan bin Syf was
caught intriguing, cast into prison, and doomed to perish.
Such were the scenes of bloodshed and murder that clouded the
annals of Muskat history,—such the bitter fruit of Syud Soweynee’s
policy: nor was there any prospect of better days to come.
The Resident had exhausted every argument, and done all in his
power to effect a mediation between the furious rivals,—he had even
proceeded to Muskat in person, and striven to reconcile them ; but such
rivals were not to be reconciled. What then should be done ? Were
the contending parties to be permitted to plunge anew into all the horrors
of a fierce and bloody warfare ? Was the British Government to remain
a passive observer of injuries inflicted upon their old and stedfast al y
the Imaum, at a time too when he was far away ? To a certain extent
refrained from active mter-
they were, The British Government ever
ference with the inland affairs of the Arab Tribes, and much as they
grieved at the present effusion of blood, they viewed with loo much

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