Page 246 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat

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