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10       ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
                  Revenge for the confiscation of the property of his family by the murdered
                  8heikh was supposed to havo been the motive of the murderer who fled for rofupn
                  to the Bcni-Riyam. At the beginning of September Rnshid-bin-TJzaiz, the Watt
                   of 8omail, who had been sent to Nezwall, reported to the 8ultan that 8hoikh
                   Badr-bin-Hilal-bin-Zaliir, who was in possession of that town, was prepared to
                   hand it over to His Highness if ho would ropair thither in person. It was at
                   first the Sultan’s intention to proceed to Nezwah ; but on receiving later inform­
                   ation which gave him reason to doubt the sincerity of 8heikh Badr-bin-Hilars
                   offer, he abandoned the idea.
                       The next event of sufficient importance to call for remark was the arrival
                   of Sheikh Saleh-bin-Ali at Samad. Towards the end of October the Sultan
                   received a letter from this Sheikh, who wrote that he was visiting Samad for the
                   purpose of settling the differences which had arisen amongst the Hinawi tribes
                   residing there, the Haboos, the Zakawineh, and the Wurood. He added that
                   he had also hoped to make peace between the Haboos and certain of the Ghafiri
                   tribes with whom they had been at war, but that during his sojourn at Samad a
                   serious disturbance had taken place, and he had in consequence declined to
                   negotiate between the Hinawis and the Ghafiris. The latter had since taken
                   their departure. The Sheikh’s letter was followed by a rumour that the Ghafiri
                   tribes holding the passes into Oman proper had closed them to Hinawi and
                   Gbafiri caravans desirous of coming from the interior to Maskat. They had
                   been directed to take this step, it was asserted, by Sheikh Saleh who was much
                   incensed against the Sultan, on account of the marked favour which he had
                   been latterly showing to Sheikh Saeed-bin-Ali of the Harth tribe, with a view,
                   Sheikh Saleh believed, to undermining the latter’s influence in the Sharkiyeh.
                   The rumour proved to be true, and a messenger was immediately despatched by
                   the Sultan to summon the chiefs of the tribes implicated to Maskat; and on
                   their refusing to comply, he seized and imprisoned the two sons of one of their
                   number who happened to be at Mattrah.
                       On the Sth of November Monsieur Paul Ottavi, who had been appointed
                   Vice-Consul for the French Republic at Maskat, arrived in the mail steamer
                   from Karachi, and a week later H.M.S. lapicing, with the Political Resi­
                   dent in the Persian Gulf on board, anchored in the harbour. The Political
                   Resident landed, and after a stay of a few days during which he exchanged
                   visits with the Sultan, left in R.I.M.S. Lawrence for Bushire.
                       Meanwhile disquieting reports were abroad regarding Sheikh Saleh's
                   movements; he had collected a large force,it was stated, with the intention not,
                   as be himself gave out, of punishing the Beni-Shebem and of investing Wadi
                   Idraah, but of attacking the capital. His subsequent punishment of the Beni-
                   Shehem and capture of Wadi Idmah testified, however, to the truth of his
                   announcement; but he was still believed to be contemplating a move against
                   Maskat, and the arrival of his son with a considerable following in the Wadi
                   Tiyeen gave colour to the report. These repeated rumours appeared to make
                   no impression on the Sultan who refused to believe either that Sheikh Saleh had
                   hostile designs against himself or that the closing of the passes by the Ghafin
                   tribes was to be ascribed to his influence. In the third week in November he
                   received a second letter from Sheikh 8aleh in which he was informed of the
                   punishment inflicted by the Sheikh on the Beni-Shehem, and in which it was
                   stated that the Ghafiris would shortly re-open the passes. 8heikh Saleh also
                   expressed a hope that the Sultan would, on the re-opening of the passes, release
                   the two Ghafiris whom he had seized as hostages; and on authentic news reach­
                   ing Muscat some days later that the passes were no longer closed, the two
                   youths were given their freedom. In the last week of November Raskid-bin-
                   TJzaiz, Wali of Semail, arrived in Maskat from Semail, and reported that peace
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