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RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1800-9L 16

Part II.—ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE MUSCAT POLITICAL
AGENCY AND CONSULATE FOR THE YEAR 1890-9L

The first event of importance which occurred during the official year
under report was the departure of His Highness
Political.
Sayyid Abdul Aziz (uncle of His Highness Sayyid
Fcysal) from ’Oman in April: his many attempts to obtain the throne of Muscat
during the last fifteen years are well known to Government. It is to he sup­
posed that, himself destitute of the funds requisite for a serious undertaking*
and finding that for the time being the people of ’Oman were unwilling to
help him at their own expense to oust a Sultan whoso rule was practically
unfelt for one whom they knew by former experience would expect and
endeavour to enforce obedience to hi9 mandates, he considered it better to
endeavour to ameliorate his circumstances, if possible, in other directions, and
accordingly in April proceeded to Abu Dhabi to his friend Shaikh Zaid-bin-
Khalifah and thence to Busbire, where he interviewed the Resident, Colonel
Ross, and then went to Bombay, where he still is. His family are, however, in
’Oman and were invited by His Highness Sayyid Feysal to come to Muscat,
but refused, as might have been expected.
During the same month the Resident at Bushire came to Muscat in Her
Majesty’s I. M. Ship Lawrence, and communicated to His Highness Sayyid
Feysal the recognition by tbe British Government of His Highness as Sultan
of Muscat.
Hamud*ab-Jaliafi (Yah Wahiba), who had been raiding for some time
past in the Batina, returned to the Sharkiyah.
Rear Admiral Freemantle also visited Muscat in his Flagship the Boadicea
on his way to Bushire.
In May His Highness Sayyid Feysal, with his brothers, went to Soor in the
Sultanee, and arranged matters between the tribes in the vicinity.
In June a cyclonic storm visited Muscat and the neighbouring region,
causing much damage to date plantations, native shipping, and the town of
Muscat, with the loss of many lives.
Fighting also took place in the Wadi Beni Ghafir between the tribes
inhabiting it, in which there was some loss of life. A settlement was, however,
made between them by Sayyid Ibrahim-bin-Keis, of Rostak.
In September a small party from the Sharkiyah attacked some of the
Ghafir people near Jemmah, in theSemail valley, and killed three of the Yaara-
bah, and wounded one of the Beni Harras, in retaliation for the murder by one
of the Beni Harras of a Sharkiyah man under his protection, which matter
having been referred by His Highness Sayyid Feysal to Shaikh Saleh-bin-Ali
for settlement, by whom the Beni Harras were granted very favourable terms,
which were repudiated by the Sharkiyah people in the manner above described.
His Highness’ abstention from intervention on their behalf was looked on by
the Semail valley people as a slight and grievance, and gave rise to much
trouble later on.
In October a collision occurred between the Awamir and Beni Rijam,
which was subsequently arranged by Shaikh Hameid-bin-Nasir, of the Beni
Ghafir.
Some complaints of assault were made by British subjects at Soor during
this month.