Page 246 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

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104 PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORT

Ever since tho doath. of His lato Highness, Saiyid Muhammad bin Turk*
his sons have been living in the closest retirement and are never seen abroad'
Saiyid Muhammad evidently felt aggrieved at the recognition of Saiyid Taimur
m Sultan and, although the present Sultan and his brother Muhammad invari­
ably visit their uncle and his family once a week, he shows no 6igns of hein^
pacified and continues to “ sulk M. b
Eolations between tho present Sultan and the Agency havo remained
friendly and even cordial, in spite of some differences of opinion in the affair
of the deportation of Ali Musa of which moro liereaftor.
Very sincere efforts have undoubtedly been made in tho direction of
reform, especially in the matter of the local administration of justice and of
the Customs, perhaps the two directions in which it was chiefly needed It.
would appear that the present Sultan is loo much inclined to rely solely on
the advice of Zubair and Ahmed as Shubaili. Those men are both of Arab
extraction but tho latter has acquired British nationality and is well known
in Bombay, ITs is a man of some ability and business knowledge. Zubair
seems to be little beyond a successful courtier. Of His Highness’ brothers,
Sniyid Muhammad bin Eaisal seems to havo some influence and has the
general reputation of being the cle\cr boy of the family. Saiyid Nadir seems
to have some strength of character and the Magisterial work of Maskat falls
cliiclly on his shoulders. Of Saiyid Hamad, the 4-th son, we hear little in
these days During the closing months of his life. Saiyid Eaisal showed him
some favour and ii. is possible that lie is now paying the penalty.
On the 23rd Pebrunry. Saiyid Badarbin Sif, of the Al Bu Said, who was
knuu n as the Commandor-ia-Ohief, died at Maskat. He was perhaps the
most respectable member of the Sultan’s entourage but did not appear to
cujoy much influence or exercise any authority.
The rising of the ’O.uiui tribes, under the leadership of the s-.-called Imam
of Tanuf, Salini bin Eashid al Kharusi,
Condition of tl # counlrr.
has overshadowed all other events in
’Oman tribal history for the year under report. This rising was due to the
preachings of the principal Ibadlii Shaikh, Abdullah bin Hamaid as Salimi.
His method has been to misrepresent the Anns Warehouse as a subtle device
of the English for depriving the ’Oman tribes of modern weapons and special­
ly of ammunition, so that they might reduce the tribes to impotence and then
ride loughshod over them.
The first results of these machinations were the alarmist reports that
reached Maskat., in the 3rd week of May 1013, that Shaikh Abdullah as Salimi
had set up his son-in-law, Salim-bin-Eashid, as “ Imam of the Muslimin ”.
The rebellion spread rapidly. Nizwah fell about the beginning of June and the
Wali, Saiyid Saif bin llamraad, committed suicide, tearing to fall into tho
hands of the rebels. Jzki *nd Awabi followed in the course of the month.
After the fall of I/.ki, Shaikh Isa bin Salih al Harithi joined the rebel faction,
whose principal temporal leader so far had been Shaikh Itarayar bin Nasir and
xvahhani, the Taminali of the Bani Riyam.
On the 2nd July, M* jor Murphy, of the Intelligence Department arrived
from Bushire to study tho situation with a view to making arrangements,
should necessity arise, for lauding British troops for the defence of Matrah and
Maskat.
On the Gth of July, His Highness the Sultan appealed to the Political
Agent for assistance and wrote officially to the Political Ecsidcnt in the
Persian Gulf in the same sense.
13y good fortune, His Majesty’s ships “ Philomel ” and “ Odin ” were in
Maskat harbour, tho •* Polorus ” was on her way and the 3 ships received
orders from His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chicf to stand fast til
the situation cleared.
On the Gth July, a wing of the 2nd Rajputs, under command of Lieu­
tenant-Colonel Smith, arrived at Matrah from Bushirc. At Hi9 Higbn^s
direct request, they were landed at Matrah and the next day occupied Baitai
Pplaj, a hamlet near Matrah, with a picquet posted on Ruwi village,