Page 235 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
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PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

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MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY
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1894-95.

Part I.—GENERAL SUMMARY;

1.—OMAN-MASKAT COAST.
The Report forming Part II of this compilation has been prepared by
Captain F. G. "Whyte. Its interest centres in the serious rebellion against the
8ultan’s power, accompanied by a treacherous- attempt on his life, which
occurred towards the close of the year, and of which an account is given in the
report.
The previous ten months of the year were not marked by any events of
importance; and tranquillity, greater perhaps than is the normal lot of Oman,
but tempered nevertheless by some of the usual inter-tribal feuds and aggressions,
generally prevailed. Serious rioting took place at Mattrah in June between
the Seedees employed by the Khojah traders and Baluchis. There was a sharp
conflict also between the Beni-Riyam and Beni-Hina at Nezwah, in which
many were killed and wounded.
In June a sad incident occurred in the death by suicide of Seyyid Pahad,
younger brother of the Sultan. The motive for this unhappy act was ascribed
to domestic and personal troubles.
Uneasiness was caused during the last half of the year by Sheikh Saleh's
movements and the rumours regarding his intentions; this influential Sheikh
apparently acting quite independently of the Sultan's authority in arbitrating in
inter-tribal quarrels and meeting out punishment. It was under his influence,
as is supposed, that the tribes holding the passes into Oman proper closed
them against all caravans about the beginning of November. The passes were
shortly re-opened; but there were, about this time, disquieting rumours of
Sheikh Saleh's designs against Maskat. These were abundantly justified by the
event; for there can be little doubt that he had long contemplated the formid­
able attack which followed in February 1895. In this connection may be
noted as significant, the return in May of Sheikhs Abdullah-bin*Saleh, Mohsin-
ln-Amir, and Amir-bin-Salim, from Zanzibar, in the S. 8. Acoca belonging
the Sultan of that place, with valuable .gifts and marks of honour from His
lghness. These three were actual leaders in the*hostilities against Maskat;
lDe fir8t being the son of Sheikh Saleh.