Page 606 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat

22 administration kepobt ON TUI PERSIAN GUL7 POLITICAL

P.tit IT-ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE MASKAT
POLITICAL AGENOY FOR THE TEAR 1808-09.
POLITICAL.
Tho year under report has been one of exceptional tranquillity in the
interior and is remarkable for the comparative absence of internecine wars
amend tho tribes. Seldom has Oman onjojod so long a period of tranquillity.
stoSk-ffiSs UrXoi es &sftA£

°f ^Thofollowlng incidents, regarding all of which special reports have boon
submitted, occurred during the year under report s—
Rising of the Jenebeh at Sur.—In March 1898, Suleiman bin Suweylim,
Governor of Sur, arrived at that place from Dhofar, and after summoning the
Sheikhs of tho Jeneheh he informed them that he did not intend in future
to respect Hafir (a system of safe conduct in vogue amongst the tribes). He
then dismissed the Sheikhs and proceeded the same day to Maskat, leaving
his son, a youth of 12, in charge of tho Governorship. The Jenebeh were
much incensed at the Suleiman's averred intention to disregard the ancient
custom of Hafir, but it is improbable that they would have taken any active
steps to show their disapproval had reasonable tact been shown in dealing
with them.
But subsequent high-handed acts on the part of the Suleiman’s son, coupled
with an attempt on his part (under instructions from his father) to build a fort
on a spot commanding at one time the water-supply of tho town and the
caravan route leading to the interior, so incensed the Jenebeh that tho various
ccctions of the tribe combined to protect their own interests.
Their efforts in this direction were, however, marked throughout with
commendable moderation, lhcy commenced by sending a petition to the
Sultan praying His Highness to stop the building of the fort and to remove
Suleiman’s son from the post of acting Wali. The Sultan ultimately acceded
to their wishes and sent a new Wali and a fresh garrison to Sur, which were
duly accepted by the Jenebeh, and the affair was thus peaceably settled
Imprisonment of Dhofar Chiefs.—On the 12th May a report was received
that Sheikh Salim bin Hamad al Malirooni had been arrested at Dhofar
and had been brought to Maskat and placed in irons in Port Jellaly (Alaskat.)
It was further reported that the arrest of this Sheikh had been ^instigated
by Suleiman bin Suweylim out of revenge for the death of his son, who was
killed by the Dhofar tribes in the late rebellion, which it w ill be remembered
was quelled by the active assistance afforded to the Sultan by the Government
of India.
In June a further report was received of the arrest at Dhofar of Sheikh
Oomer bin. Abdulla al Mahrooni, cousin of Sheikh Salim bin Hamad, also at
the instigation of Suleiman bin Suweylim and for the same reasons, but on
this occasion the prisoner was taken to Sohar (Suleiman’s head-quarters)
and incarcerated in the fort there.
Both these men were released in December.
Attempts to levy a punitive tax.—In July His Highness the Sultan notified
to this Agency his intention of levying a punitive tax of 5 per cent, on the date
produce of the tribes residing at Rostak and Wadi Maawal ns a punish­
ment for the trouble they had been giving to His Highness for some time past,
three days later the proclamation regarding the extra tax was issued.
As soon as the tax began to he levied complaints at once began to be
l °y "“^ subjects, and on enquiry it transpired that the whole produce
-rwin! ,tlstnctB ha* already been bought up and paid for by certain Banians
Sli&teKSSES™”*-1- ™ a»ired

to/ibmtta/ateiuS!"1" ”d "" *»
f r\t,i,h {"dia traders at Shinas.-In March two British Indian
VenorSi PnVh' Mowaram and Seokbram Jessenmal, residents at Shinas,
davs nrovim 1 l ' f* Agency that a raid had been made eleven or twelve
had
servants.