Page 73 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

Past II.—ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE MUSCAT POLITICAL
AGENCY AND CONSULATE FOR THE YEAR 1891-92.

The general political condition of 'Oman during the year now under report,
which was one of continuous tranquillity, marred
Political.
only occasionally by inter-tribal quarrels and blood
feuds of a more or less important nature, contrasts strongly with the almost
constant acts of rebellion and disquieting rumours of risings on the part of the
8harkiyyeh tribes against the ruling power, which used to occur in former
years. The withdrawal of Sayyid Abdul Aziz in the beginning of the previous
official year from the sphere of ’Oman politics, and the loyal adherence of
Shaikh Saleh-bin-Ali to the cause of the present Sultan, have no doubt con­
tributed principally towards this peaceful state of affairs, almost unknown for
many years in the annals of ’Oman. It is doubtful, however, if with this
continued tranquillity of the province, the Sultan has improved or strength­
ened his position, for while the tribes of the Sbarkiyyeb have all along held
aloof from the central power at Muscat in the management of their own
affairs, there are others which, though not actively opposed to it, have already
shown indications of asserting their independence.
The official year 1S91-92 opened with rather a gloomy prospect for the
trade of Muscat, on account of the caravan roads leading from the Sharkiyyeh
having been closed by the coalition of the Ghafri tribes of the Semail Valley,
and the diversion of trade from that part of the province to Soor. As men­
tioned in the last Administration Report, a large kafileh from the Sharkiyyeh
had been attacked and plundered by the Gbafri tribes of the Semail Valley,
principally the Beni Jabir, and as the offenders refused to surrender the plun­
dered property, both the parties assumed and maintained a hostile attitude
towards each other for a long, time, but the Sultan, who at first showed a cer­
tain amount of indifference as to the result of the quarrel, having been even­
tually prerailed upon to intervene by Shaikh Saleh of Al-Harth, who were the
principal sufferers by the raid, sent Shaikh Rash id-bin-Aziz and Sayyid
Muhammsd-hiE-Ms&owd as his representatives to negotiate ah amicable settle­
ment between the several tribes concerned in the dispute. This intervention
and rKgoaiation oa the Sultanas part resulted in an arrangement being made
by which the GJafri tribes were to pay the Harth Si,800 for all their losses,
and had the desired effect of re-storing peace %and re-opening the roads from
the Sharkijyeh to Muscat for traffic.
In connection with the fire at Khaboorah referred to in last year’s report
which resulted in the loss of property belonging to several British subjects
residing there, the Government of India having expressed an opinion that it
was deliberate!/ caused and held the Sultan primarily responsible for the pro-'
tection of the property and persons of British subjects in His Highness's terri­
tory, and a committee having been appointed to enquire into the losses, it was
decided that the sum of 512,739 was a fair estimate of compensation pay­
able to the sufferers. This amount the 8ultan has agreed to pay in monthly
instalments of §1,000 each, and the Government of India expressed their
satisfaction at the readiness with which His Highness accepted the award of.
the Punchayet. In order, however, to recover this indemnity from the Howa-
sinah, the most influential tribe at Khaboorah, His Highness imprisoned four
of their Shaikhs, two belonging to the Savralim section, and two to the Hawa.
aid. Am arrangement vai eventually effected with the prisoners, by which
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