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BESrD^NCy AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOIl 1883-84. 35

The ilcxt few years of Sa'ccd’s life were tolerably uneventful, and were spent in the relax­
ing climate of Zanzibar, where his sensual habits must have tended to unfit him for the active
government of his Arab dominions. During his long residence in East Africa Sa’ccd’s main
employment was to look after his estates and trading ventures, and to continue to add to his
already large and unwieldy navy. Ilcvcriing now to affairs in 'Oman, we see that Scyf, who
had become Wali of Sohar on the retirement of his father Ilainud, and who had gradually
made himself independent, was at length opposed by a coalition of the Yal Saad and other
Bat inch tribes, and, together with his uncle Kais, overthrown and put info confinement. From
this Scyf not long after escaped and recovered Sohar, hut Ilainud, angry with him for having
dismissed the pious Khalalce, and jealous of his friendship and alliance with Thov/oynce, caused
him to be assassinated, and then resumed charge of Sohar. This was in 181-9- 1 howeynce did
not fail to represent these proceedings of Hamud to Government, and eventually he waa
informed that, as Maraud had violated the engagement that had been made through the media­
tion of the Resident, they would not again intervene in the matter. About the same time
Thowcyocc received orders from Sa’oed to endeavour to obtain possession of Hamud’s person,
and with this object in view he proceeded up the coast in the Feiz Allum frigate and lured
Hamud under a show of friendship to Shinas, where he treacherously seized and carried him
to Muscat. Here be was confined for a few days in Jclali fort, and then put to death by poison
on the 23rd April 1S50. Thowcyncc did not gain the immediate advantage he expected by
this, for Sohar was at once occupied by Kai.s, who, on being blockaded, called in the aid of the
Kowasim and compelled Thoweynoe to raiso the siege. Kais, moreover, succeeded in capturing
Shinas, Khor, Fakan, and GhalJa, and not content with this he arrested Kahtan-bin-Scyf, who
had been concerned in the seizure of Maraud, and cruelly murdered him by decapitation with
a blunt sword. When the news of these events reached India, the action of Thoweynee was
viewed with Mrong disapprobation by Government, his conduct towards Ilamud being
characterised as a gross violation of the treaty. SaV.d, after much urging, at length realised
the necessity of his presence in ’Oman, where he arrived on the 10th May 1851. •
On receiving Thoweyn'Vs report he did not hesitate to approve all his proceedings, as
indeed he could not well help doing, for Thoweynoc had clearly act^d under instruction, though
there is some doubt whether Sn’ced bad actually given ordc.s for Ilnrnud to be put to death.
Sa’eed at once began to prosvcutn war against Kais-bin-Azzar. Me raovr-d Tint against
Kbaboorch, which soon submitted, ami then with little difficulty recaptured Shinns, Ultimately,
deserted by the Kowasim, Kais made terms and retired to Rostak with a pom ion of §200
monthly, Sohar being surrendered to Sa’eed, who thus for the second lime became its unques­
tioned possessor. Eager to beat rest again in his African home, Sa’ecd, having tranquilliscd
his country, sailed away from Muscat in the month of November 1852.
By this campaign and his generally judicious arrangements with the leading Shaikhs and
Chiefs of ’Oman, Sa’ced greatly increased his reputation, and his authority became more firmly
established than it had been for many years previously.
But the reign of peace was short, for scarcely had Sa’ecd left ’Oman when the Wahabee
Chief, Abdulla-bin-Fcysal, with an unusually large force entered the country and re-occupied
the old position at Bereymee. The terms he at first demanded were so extravagant that
Thoweynee was nnable to agree to them, and, proceeding to Sohar, assumed a hostile attitude.
By the intervention of the British Resident, however, Abdulla-bin-Feysal lowered his tone, and
an arrangement was eventually come to by which the annual tribute to Nejd was increased to
twelve thousand dollars. Abdulla-bin-Fcysal soon after returned to Ncjd, leaving as general
at Bereymee Ahmcd-cl Sadeyree to represent the Ameer’s interests.
Elated by his success against Kais, Sa’ced, on quitting Iris native country in 1S5£, had
indulged the fond hope that he might be suffered to spr-nd the remainder of his days in peace
in the beautiful island he had chosen for his residence. His health and strength, it ia said, had
given way greatly in the last few years, and it was natural enough that at his age and with
his enfeebled constitution he should reck repose. Tire recent incursion of the 'Wahabccs, how­
ever, the vexatious treatment of the Wali Scyf-bin-Nnbhan, and the continued aggression by
the Persians at Bunder Ablass, forced him to turn his face towards Muscat. On the 16th
April 185.1, Sa’ced, who was very apprehensivo at this time of French designs on his territory in
East Africa, and who had been for three days and nights in consultation with the leading Arab#
at Zanzibar on the subject, paid a visit to the British Consulate, and, placing the hand of his son
Khahd in that of Colonel Hamerton, expressed the desire that Khalid should ho guidod by the
Consul's advico in all his doubts and difficulties during his own absence, adding that, unlcsi
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