Page 273 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASK AT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1007 1908. 89
Three Somali boats managed through Agents to embark some 800 rifles
either atSuwaik on the Batinch Coast or at Sur and to convey thorn to Soma­
liland or the Bonadir Coast. His Highness warned his subjeots not to sell
them arms. The British and French subjects were likewise warned.
The settlement in regard to the compensation to bo paid by His Marine.
of tho
Highness for the looting of the crew and passengers of the dhow Alamdad G«°jan* Alum-
of Cutch, which was wrecked off Has Madraka and was fully described in lastdHcl ”•
year’s Report, is still under consideration. The blame has not been able to bo
brought home to any particular tribe or Sheikh. Strong suspicion, however,
attaches to the inhabitants of Masirah and Mallot. The matter has not been
pressed, however, owing to their exemplary behaviour in the case of the strand­
ing of S.S. Teutonia.
On May 1st, the sailing ship Alamghir anchored at the entrance t° WreckatMaskat
the Maskat harbour, attempted to set sail for Lingah. A strong south-east um’
wind was blowing. Owing to some unexplained carelessness in the handling of
the ship she was allowed to drift on to Ras Kalboo at the western entrance of
the harbour.
She was owned by Yuscf Mahomed Husain of Lingah and carried a cargo
of 10,000 bags of rice. The Sultan’s yacht the tfur-el-Bahr subsequently
towed her into Makalla, a part of Maskat harbour where the coal sheds are
situated. She became a total wreck. The smell in the harbour from the ferm­
enting rice was almost unbearable. Fortunately the Arabs quickly conveyed
the rice in boats up and down the coast. Llis Highness wisely forbade its
being landed in Maskat or Mutrah. H.M.S. Pcrseu* at His Highness’s
request blew up the remains of the sailing ship in February as it obstructed
navigation.
The S. S. Teutonia left Lingnh for Europe on July ICth. On July wrookofthe
20th she stranded on a spit of sand 4 miles to the north of Ras Madraka ?§55ton:?»».*
where fortunately she was partially protected from the monsoon waves. On
July 22nd, the ship having broken her back and being full of water it became
necessary to abandon her. Captain Scharges arranged to launch four ship’s
boats. Previously he had instructed the officers in charge of each exactly
what course to steer, and it was agreed they should keep in sight of one
another and tic up together at night timo so as to avoid being separated in
the dark. Unfortunately it was foggy and in addition a heavy sea was
running. Outside Ghubbet Kuerat two out of the four boats became sepa­
rated from the others and were lost sight of in the fog.
The Captain with the two other boats set sail for Mnsirah Island spending
a night with the two boats tied together at sea. Next morning they arrived
at Umm-ar-Rasas on Masirah Island. Later on ihey proceeded to Dawwa.
They were well received theyo by Ali-biu-Nasir-el-Farisi, who, it will be recol­
lected, was one of those who were imprisoned in connection with the Baron
Innerdale outrage. They provided the officers and men with fowls, eggs,
rice, etc., without payment beyond a verbal promise that they would receive
money at Maskat. Captain Scharges then culled for volunteers among his
crew and pluckily sailed his lifeboat for Maskat where ho safely arrived on
August 3rd.
On August the 8th, tho remainder of the officers and men from Masirah
arrived in a dhow in company with Ali-bin-Nasir el Farisi who personally
brought them to Maskat. lie was thanked by llis Highness, who was much
pleased by his subjects’ behaviour. The Hamburg-America Company rewarded
him for his kindness and hospitality to their sailors.
In regard to the other two boats much anxiety was felt as the sea was
very rough and one of them was only a very small boat. On August 22nd,
however, all tho remaining crew arrived in a dhow and it'was th*n ascertained
that the bigger boat stranded on tho rocks at Gubbet Kuerat. Her crew of 10
men (5 Germans— 3 sailors and 2 officers—and 6 Arabs from Port Said) were
compelled to abandon her. They walked along the coast to Surab sustaining
great hardships from want of water and food. The ooast hero being formed of
barren rocks right down to the wator’a edge thoy had great physical difficulties
to overcome which may be understood from its taking them five days to
accomplish the 30 miles separating tho two places. At last thoy reachod Surab