Page 200 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

178 Part VI—Chap. XLI.
You will explicitly inform the Chieftains in question that inattention to your prohibition
or rofusal to submit io the arbitration of tho British Government, will be treated a8 an act o£
hostility.
An nttaolc of Marint, it is hoped, may not be contemplate!( but should it be so, you will
take immediate measures to prevent a proceeding that would, among other effects, disturb to
seriously tho commerce with the Gulf. There is every des.ro-on the part of this Government
to preservo neutrality, but it must ho well satisfied of the justice of the grounds on which his
enemies proceed before it can permit a Prince with whom it has so long maintained an intimate
and beneficial alliance to bo ruined by this combination of his enemies.
316, In pursuance of these instructions, tho Resident despatched a vessel
•rviv of war to Maskat arrangements were
bomb*, Selection., Yolomo xxiv. mado for tUo despatch of a squadron'in
case Maskat were attacked. When the Imam returned to Maskat in May-
1830, he affected to look upon tho state of affairs on tho Batinah ooast ns a
trifling matter, easily to he settled, without tho British aid, disavowed the
application made for their .assistance and returnod the vessel of war sent to
Maskat. Ilia attempts, however, to reduoo tho insurgents by the sword failed
and ho had to liberate Hillal and cede several districts to Ha mud.
316. Early in the year 1832 the Imam left Maskat for his African
possessions confiding to his son, Syud Hillal bin Said, and nephew, Mahomed
bin Salim, the direotion of his affairs during his absence. Immediately subse­
quent to his departure, however, these were thrown iuto the greatest confusion,
in consequence of tho seizure and imprisonment of the authorities above men­
tioned, by Sacud bin Ali, the Chief of Burkn.
317. It being then the policy of the British Government to preserve the
integrity of His IHghness'a dominions, the 'Resident lost no time in despatching
his Assistant, with a respectable naval force, to check the designs of Mis
Mighness's enemies, as well as to afford advice and support to the existing
Government; and Sultan bin Saggar having by letter communicated his wish
to commence hostilities against tho Imam's possessions, and it being also
known that Hamud bin Azan of Sohar, and Hillal bin Imam, although not
having apparently interfered, were secretly rejoiced at what had taken place,
letters were addressed to those Chiefs, as well as to tho Sheikhs of Abuthabi,
Soweik, and Barka, intimating that the British Government had determined to
support their ally, and further informing the latter that the continued deten­
tion of his prisoners would lead to a collision with the British Government.
Before the naval force could reach Maskat, Sultan bin Saggar had seized
Khore Fakaun, Khull a, and Dibba, ports on the Batinah Coast, belonging to
the Imam; and Hamud bin Azan, Chief of Sohar, with Sheikh Hillal,* had
prepared to attack Rastag, odo of the most important inland places in the
Imam's territory. The latter two had given assistance to the Barka Chief in
bis attack upon Masnaah; but the Imam'6 daughter having succeeded in
throwing reinforcements into the place, the siege had been raised. The prison­
ers had been released and permitted to return to Maskat, and on the Assistant
Resident’s arrival at Barka, Saud bin Ali disclaimed all intention of rebelling
against the Imam, and protested that he had adopted such strong measures
with reference to his kinsmen solely with a view to self-preservation, his life
having been threatened by Mahomed bin Salim. To provide against anj
further aggressions and annoyances, a vessel of war was at the request of the
local authorities directed to remain at Maskat, until the arrival of His High­
ness the Imam, who was expected from Zanzibar in the course of a fortnight,
and these authorities were dissuaded from retaliatory measures in the mean­
time, and advised to turn their attention to the management of their internal
affairs, and to the security of their persons and possessions from foreign aggres­
sions or treachery. . The vessel of war was very shortly withdrawn, its presence
being required to give additional foroe in the demonstration against Ejman.
His Highness the Imam did not, however, return to Maskat until the 10th
September, when he addressed the Resident upon the subject of tli© loss of
his towns of Dibba and Khore Fukaun proposing to leave the matter in his
hands, but was informed that British interference, under the circumstances,
• Chief of Bowcik.