Page 559 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

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POE THE TEAR 1017.

CHAPTER VEIL

administration REPORT FOR THE MUSCAT AGENCY FORTHB
YEAR 1917.
Major L. B. H. Haworth, I.A., held charjp^of the office of the ^Political

p*nonnd. 8ul throughout the year.
During his absence on one month’s privilege leave and recess, from the
j2th October till the 30lh November, Captain J. M. Brickman, 3rd Brahmans,
vs8 in charge of current affairs.
The post of Agency Surgeon continued vacant.
The Medical Officer of the 108th Infantry officiated as Agency Surgeon
in addition to his other duties until the 28th May -when, on the departure of
in addition io nis otner uuuc« uui>u iuc uxuj wuou, uii
his regiment for Basrah, he was relieved by the Medical Officer, 3rd Brahmans.
Sub-Assistant Surgeon J. P. Mascarenhas remained in charge of the
Hospital and continued to do excellent work. It was intended that he should
be relieved in the month of December, but Muscat has such a bad name that
it is difficult to find any one willing to take up the appointment.
Monsieur A. Jeannier was Consul for France throughout the year.
Abdulaziz-al-Ruwahi continued as Dragoman. Monsieur Jeannier has now
been Consul for over 7 years.
At the close of the year 1916 the Sultan had been unable to make headway
against the rebellion which originated in
Condition of the country.
his father’s reign, in 1913, and which had
deprived him of the towns of Niswa and Iski in the interior of Oman, the
Wadis Semail and Afhatral, in which valleys be and his family own con­
siderable property, and of the town of Nakhl which lies near Burka and is
about 25 miles from the coast.
In the remainder of Oman proper the rebel Shaikhs had thrown off all
allegiance to the shadowy authority formerly possessed by the Saiyids or Sultans
oi Oman and Muscat.
The Fort of Rostaq, and the country dependent on it, was still held by
Saiyid Ahmad bin Ibrahim bin Qais, a semi-independent chief of the Sultans
own family of Abu Said.
The rebels, apparently determined to leave nothing to any member of
(his family, decided, in the early months of the year, to complete their con-
quests by taking this fort.
The leadership of the rebellion had resolved itself into a triumvirate con-
dsting of the Imam, Salim bin Rashid el Kharusi, representing the religious
element and the titular head of the movement, Shaikh Is a bin Salih el Harifchi,
leader of the lliuawi section and Shaikh Hamyar bin Nasir el Nabhani, leader
of the Ghafiri section of the Omani tribes.
The attack on Rostak had not the support of the Hinawi -leader, a fact
*hich has had a considerable effect upon Omani politics.
Of the three leaders Shaikh Isa has by far the greatest influence outside
of his tribe though Shaikh Hamyar has the greater tribal following.
The Chief of Rostaq had full notice of the impending attack and laid in
*®mxmitioii and supplies. He also wrote to his cousin, the Sultan, for assist-
*ace and His Highness sent additional stores and ammunition but the fort was
hJ vested before they could reach their destination.
His Highness, haring obtained the assistance of the 8halkh of BaraimL
a force of some 2,000 or 3,000 men and attempted to relieve Rostaq
ut he was deserted by his followers, the deserters being led by the Shaikh of
8a^lni^ As long as the question was one of drawing rations and money the
* numerous and eager army but, on the approach of fighting he
48 left with only a handful of his own immediate adherents.