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16      ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PER8IAN GULP POLITICAL


                         In November a khafila of eighty oamels, laden principally with goods be­
                     longing to the Harth tribe of the Sharkiyah, was attacked and looted by a party
                     composed of members from various tribes of the 8email valley, principally
                     Beni Jabir, Beni Harras, and’ Yaarabah, the khafila was under protection of a
                     man of the Masakirah (Ghafri) tribe named Hameid-bin-Salim (nicknamed
                     Kurta), which therefore became involved. Sayyid Nasir-bin-Muhammad, a
                     man of weight, was sent by His Highness Sayyid Fey sal to Tow to get back the
                     looted property, but he narrowly escaped being fired on and returned discom­
                     fited. Subsequently the Maskarah Kafir Kurta, with a party of some
                     twenty men, closed the roads leading from tho Sharkiyah, committing murders
                     almost within sight of tile walls of Mattrah and Muscat, nearly paralysing
                     trade up to the end of the official year.
                         A truce was made by Rashid-bin-TJzeiyez between the Rahbiyeen Midabi-
                     yeen and Ab-Waheebah for one year.
                         In February 1891 Shaikh Hamud-bin-Majid of the Beni-bin-Ali (Razik
                     section) was treacherously murdered by a relation of Shaikh Yussuf-bin-Ali
                     (Sinadah section), whom Hamud had killed in 1887; a truce was effected between
                     the parties by the mediation of Sayyid Nasir-bin-Mahomed (Ab-bu-Sadi).
                       * In the same month the bazaar of Khaboorah was destroyed by fire, the losses
                     sustained by the British merchants amounting to some $35,000. The fire was
                     undoubtedly lit by members of the Howamid section of the Howasinah tribe
                     instigated thereto by the Wali of Sahar, whose declared policy in reference to
                     that tribe received His Highness Sayyid Fey sal’s approval.
                         On 19th March 1891 a new Commercial Treaty with the British Govern­
                     ment was signed by His Highness Sayyid FeysaL
                         In May Her Majesty’s Ship Cossack brought for adjudication the case
                                             of a dhow captured by her near Ras-Gameilab,
                            Slave trade.
                                             and destroyed after her crew had fired on the ship’s
                     boats: the dhow was condemned.
                         In September twenty-five African slaves arrived at Muscat in the British
                     India Steam Navigation Company’s Steamer Kistna from Karachi in charge of
                     some Arabs. They were, after enquiry by the Acting Political Agent, liberated
                     with the assent of the Sultan and sent to Bombay; their release, however,
                     called forth strong remonstrance from Shaikh Saleh-bin-Ali to His Highness
                     Sayyid FeysaL
                         During this month the Resident at Bushire made a representation to the
                     Political Agent regarding the wholesale importation of slaves into the Persian
                     Gulf from Soor and the Batineh coast.
                         Daring the year thirty-two fugitive slaves taking refage at this Consulate
                     were freed under the Treaty of 1873.
                         The following men-of«war visited Muscat during the year. Her Majesty’s
                                             ships Boadicea, Qrifin, Cossack, Mariner, and
                                Hmwj.
                                             Sphinx.
                         Surgeon-Major A. 8.G. Jayakar held charge of the office of Political Agent
                                             and Consul from 1st April to 30th November, when
                                             he was relieved hy Colonel E, Mockler on return
                     from furlough, who held charge from that date to the close of the official year-
                     under report.
                                                            B. MOCKLER, Colonel,
                                                              Eer Britannic Majesty*t
                                                         Political Agent and Consult Muscat.
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