Page 175 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

ADMINISTRATION REPORT
oj? ran

PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

Aim
MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY
FOIL
1893-34.

Part I.—GENERAL SUMMARY.

1 —OMAN—MUSCAT COAST.
The Report for the year, forming Part II of tins compilation, has been
prepared by Major J. Hayes Sadler.
Political tranquillity has generally prevailed as regards the Sultan’s
authority, which has not, however, been sufficiently strong to suppress inter-tri­
bal feuds. These have been active and have led to numerous raids and repri­
sals, resulting in a good deal of bloodshed. In an attack by the Yal Saad on
the Ahl Dhahireh at Mubrah early in the year, the loss in killed and wounded
on the two sides amounted to about 160.
Hameyd-bin-Salim, a marauder, better known as Kurta, began raiding in
the Sharkeyeh in September, and in February advanced towards Kurryat.
The force there was strengthened by His Highness, and the tribes having closed
the passes, Kurta turned back and subsequently sued for pardon.
The definite refusal of Sayyid Abdul Aziz to accept the pension proffered
to him was communicated to His Highness the Sultan in October. Sayyid
Abdul Aziz has, however, continued to reside in India.
Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts made for their recovery, no trace
-as been found of the seven slaves mentioned in last year’s report for Muscat
as having been imported from Africa.
Trouble was threatened in the outlying Muscat dependency of Gwadur,
whither a large number of slaves of the Rinds of Mand in Mekran had fled for
refuge from their masters. The presence of these refugees being a source of
danger, as likely to incite their former masters to violence for their recovery,
their removal to India was in every way encouraged, and a large number were
accordingly conveyed there.
An attempted breach of the maritime peace was visited with a fine on the
ofEending Shaikh, who had carried an armed party by sea to prosecute a claim
to certain property at Shaam; and in a case of the kidnapping of an African
passenger in a native craft, the vessel was confiscated aud the nakhoda i
un-
prisoned, the kidnapped man being released.