Page 190 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

20 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON TEE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

showing signs of desire to break the peace, a caution from Shaikh 8aloh-bin-
Ali produced the required result.
Hostilities between the Yal Saad of the Batinch and the Ahl Dhahiroh
were renewed early in the year. On this occasion the Yal Saad wore the first
to assume the offensive. Thoy attacked Mubrah with a force said to consist
of 4,000 men; further reinforcements wore expected, but they did not wait for
their arrival. The attack was ropulsed, the Yal 8aad losing 117 in killed and
wounded, the defenders, 7 Shaikhs and 42 men. An attempt at mediation made
by the Sultan produced no result. After several minor raids on both sides, the
Yal 8aad prepared in November for a fresh advance on Mubrah. Sayyid Ibra-
him-bin-Kais then interfered and at once brought about a cessation of hos­
tilities. A month later the leading Shaikhs on both sides met before 8ayyid
Ibrahim-bin-Kais and settled the terms of peace.
An old feud between the Beni Mukeom and the Sulooh of Tewee was
renewed in May, the Beni Mukeem being the aggressors. They made an
expedition against Towee and set fire to a large house in which powder was
stored; 14 of the Sulooh wore killed by the explosion and the fire of the attack,
which lost three men. An ineffectual attempt was made by the Sultan’s
younger brother, Sayyid Fabad, to bring about a reconciliation. Subsequently,
Shaikh Saleh put a stop to further hostilities.
In June collisions occurred between the Beni Umar and the Hawasineh of
Khaboorab, in consequence of the murder by the Beni Umar of the Shaikh of
the Beni Saeed, a tribe being under the protection of Hawasineh.
In the same month the Sultan sent a force under Sayyid Badr-bin-Seif to
take possession of Mansoor and oust the garrison of the Beni Harms from the
fort: the expedition was ill-planned; and a war-cry being raised, the Sultan’s
party had to beat a- precipitate retreat. His Highness had taken up his
quarters at the time in the fort of Nakhl awaiting the arrival of Shaikhs
Suleiman-bin-Seif of the Beni Jabir and Khalfan-bin-Humayyan of Nakhl, whom
he had summoned to his presence; but hearing that these two Shaikhs were
preparing to obey his summons with a force of between 400 and 600 men, he
left Nakhl suddenly and returned to Birkah. The Beni Jabir then proceeded
to cut down some date trees belonging to two of His Highness’s officials in the
vicinity of NakbL
In September Hameyd-bin-Salim, commonly known as Kurta, a well-
known marauder, commenced raiding in the Sharkeyeb ; in consequence of
rumours that he intended proceeding against Kurryat, the Sultan increased his
garrison in that town. Apparently Kurta found enough to occupy his atten­
tion in the Sharkeyeh for some time, for it was not till the end of February
that he began to move towards Kurryat. His Highness sent orders to the
tribes holding the passes leading to the coast to -block his way, and at the same
time sent a further reinforcement to Kurryat. Finding his advance checked 1
at the passes, Kurta opened negotiations with the tribes to let him through;
failing in this, he returned to his country and sent a humble letter to His High­
ness, begging for forgiveness.
The Beni-Bu-Ali carried on a desultory war with their hereditary foes, the
Beni-Bu-Hasan, for some months: no general engagement took place, and the
casualties on both sides were few. A truce was effected between them by
Shaikh Saleh-bin-AlL Collision also occurred between the Yal Wabibah and the
Jenebah.
In February 1894 peace was made between the Harth and the Ahl Bashar
through the instrumentality of Shaikh Rashid-bin-Uzaiz, the Sultan’s "Wali in
"Wadi Semmayil. This official was deputed, at the same time, to settle the

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