Page 22 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

16 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PER8IAN GULP POLITICAL

In November a khafila of eighty oamels, laden principally with goods be­
longing to the Harth tribe of the Sharkiyah, was attacked and looted by a party
composed of members from various tribes of the 8email valley, principally
Beni Jabir, Beni Harras, and’ Yaarabah, the khafila was under protection of a
man of the Masakirah (Ghafri) tribe named Hameid-bin-Salim (nicknamed
Kurta), which therefore became involved. Sayyid Nasir-bin-Muhammad, a
man of weight, was sent by His Highness Sayyid Fey sal to Tow to get back the
looted property, but he narrowly escaped being fired on and returned discom­
fited. Subsequently the Maskarah Kafir Kurta, with a party of some
twenty men, closed the roads leading from tho Sharkiyah, committing murders
almost within sight of tile walls of Mattrah and Muscat, nearly paralysing
trade up to the end of the official year.
A truce was made by Rashid-bin-TJzeiyez between the Rahbiyeen Midabi-
yeen and Ab-Waheebah for one year.
In February 1891 Shaikh Hamud-bin-Majid of the Beni-bin-Ali (Razik
section) was treacherously murdered by a relation of Shaikh Yussuf-bin-Ali
(Sinadah section), whom Hamud had killed in 1887; a truce was effected between
the parties by the mediation of Sayyid Nasir-bin-Mahomed (Ab-bu-Sadi).
* In the same month the bazaar of Khaboorah was destroyed by fire, the losses
sustained by the British merchants amounting to some $35,000. The fire was
undoubtedly lit by members of the Howamid section of the Howasinah tribe
instigated thereto by the Wali of Sahar, whose declared policy in reference to
that tribe received His Highness Sayyid Fey sal’s approval.
On 19th March 1891 a new Commercial Treaty with the British Govern­
ment was signed by His Highness Sayyid FeysaL
In May Her Majesty’s Ship Cossack brought for adjudication the case
of a dhow captured by her near Ras-Gameilab,
Slave trade.
and destroyed after her crew had fired on the ship’s
boats: the dhow was condemned.
In September twenty-five African slaves arrived at Muscat in the British
India Steam Navigation Company’s Steamer Kistna from Karachi in charge of
some Arabs. They were, after enquiry by the Acting Political Agent, liberated
with the assent of the Sultan and sent to Bombay; their release, however,
called forth strong remonstrance from Shaikh Saleh-bin-Ali to His Highness
Sayyid FeysaL
During this month the Resident at Bushire made a representation to the
Political Agent regarding the wholesale importation of slaves into the Persian
Gulf from Soor and the Batineh coast.
Daring the year thirty-two fugitive slaves taking refage at this Consulate
were freed under the Treaty of 1873.
The following men-of«war visited Muscat during the year. Her Majesty’s
ships Boadicea, Qrifin, Cossack, Mariner, and
Hmwj.
Sphinx.
Surgeon-Major A. 8.G. Jayakar held charge of the office of Political Agent
and Consul from 1st April to 30th November, when
he was relieved hy Colonel E, Mockler on return
from furlough, who held charge from that date to the close of the official year-
under report.
B. MOCKLER, Colonel,
Eer Britannic Majesty*t
Political Agent and Consult Muscat.