Page 296 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

2 ADMINISTRATION REI»ORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

The first note of impending trouble at Dhofar on the southern no
Arabia was sounded in the beginning of tlio year, when it appeared thalik*
Moplah outlaw, Sycd Fadhl bin Alawi, contemplated a revival of hia in ^
pretentions to that place. The Sultan was advised to take measures to nDep
the safety of this remote part of his territory, but neglected to do so. secure
In November the fort was attacked and captured hy tho Al-Kathir trihr*
from the neighbouring upland country, and tho son and nephew of th
Sultan’s Wali, who was himself absent at Maskat, were killed. An expedition
despatched by the Sultan for the recovery of Dhofar and the ro-estabUshment
of his authority failed owing partly to tho Shanifereh tribe declining to co-
operato as had been hoped, and the Sultan at once appealed to Government to
help him, and to check tho movement which he alleged to be on behalf of the
Moplah Syed Fadhl. The Political Agent was then authorised to proceed
to Dhofar in H. M. S. “ Brisk ” in order to effect tho best settlement
possible under the authority of the Sultan. This mission also failed, the rebel
Shaikh and his following being found implacably hostile to Maskat and the
Sultan’s rule as exercised by bis Wali Shaikh Sulimnn bin Suweilam having
incurred much odium. The Turkish flag had been hoisted by the rebels, but
the concern of the Moplah outlaw with the movement was not clearly estab­
lished.
The Sultan proposed to be ready to send reinforcements to recover Dhofar
if supported by us and was informed that the advance of his troops would be
covered by the fire of the guns of II. M. S. “Brisk” from the anchorage.
The condition of this proffered aid being that in the future arrangement of
Dhofar affairs our advice should be followed. Much apathy and delay was
however evinced in the preparations, and shortly after the close of the year
under report the Sultan finally decided against the expedition, giving as the
ground for rejecting the aid proffered by Government, that he could not bind
himself to follow our advice in the future arrangements at Dhofar without
being informed what that advice would be.
Nezwah, the former capital, and therefore enjoying a certain prestige,
was recovered for the Sultan, who bad long desired its restoration. The ac­
quisition was probably a costly one to His llighucss.
Sayyid Saood bin Azzrrn made an attempt on Soliar in the Batineh, but
the timely despatch of small reinforcements by a steamer which happened to
be j^resent sufficed to frustrate the attack.
Trade has been satisfactory. The returns show a substantial increase,
excluding specie, on the figures for last year, the improvement being nearly
equally divided between exports and imports.
2.—OMAN PIRATE COAST.
Reports having been received of an importation of slaves at Abu Dtbnbh
the matter formed the subject of investigation in a visit which the Residen
made to the coast in February in the R. I. M. S. “Lawrence” accompanie
by H. M. S. “ Lapwing. ” It was difficult to obtain exact details, there
being a general reluctance to give evidence as to specific facts or “?^res*
From the enquiry, however, the conclusion was clear that there had ee^
importation by sea, and that a considerable number bad been broug
Abu Dtliabi, some being probably passed on to Katr and other places,
chief could not deny the fact that there bad been an importation, but, in
the
admitting the fact of the traffic, sought to defend himself by alleges
general prevalence, without check, of the traffic, and its long contrau ^
with the knowledge of every person on the coast, and asserting that o
part of the slaves brought to the coast reached Abu Dthabi, after a 11 -ye
had been disposed of at the intermediate ports touched at. It being jm^espoQ-
to fix the number of slaves for the importation of whom the chief was r
6ible with any exactitude, while it was evident that it could not be s aftera
was taken at forty, and a fine of dollars 2,100 was imposed upon the cuie , f^esej
deduction on account of nine slaves whom he produced and delivered. aQ(j
together with another who effected his own escape, were taken on do
carried to Bushire, where they were set free.