Page 114 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

what had been paid in the past. On the other hand, these could also have been
exaggerated figures, aimed at forcing both leaders to negotiate for lesser sums.
The response to the Su‘udl demand was varied. Humud b. ‘Azzan, whose
territory was relatively close to Sa‘d b. Mutlaq’s headquarters at al-Burayml
and hence vulnerable to invasion, complied with the demand and paid his
share.946 Thuwaynl, on the other hand, was reluctant to cooperate and
conducted an evasive policy to buy time. Acting in accordance with advice
from the British Resident, Thuwaynl requested that Sa‘d grant him enough
time to receive instructions regarding the matter from his father in
Zanzibar.947 In the meantime, Thuwaynl considered curbing the Su‘udl move
militarily, and therefore sent an urgent appeal for aid to Bombay.948 Sa‘d, on
the other hand, had drawn up a large tribal force from various parts of
al-Zahirah, and declared his intention to march upon Masqat as soon as
possible.949
Since Thuwaynl was in no position to effect a counter-attack on his own,
lacking both the power and the time to raise enough men to defend his capital,
the British government moved to relieve him.950 On account of previous
commercial treaties with Masqat and the privileges that had been granted to
British vessels and subjects by Sa‘Id b. Sultan, British policy was now taking
Sard’s interests into consideration.951 The Resident therefore despatched two
British warships to the coast of al-Batinah to strengthen Thuwaynl’s resistance
and discourage the enemy.952 Hennell, the Resident, also wrote to both Amir
Faysal and Sa‘d b. Mutlaq, remonstrating the former for the advance and
asking the latter to halt military operations until further instructions from
al-Riyad.953 Hennell’s action, together with the arrival in Masqat of
authorization from Sa‘Id b. Sultan to Thuwaynl to deliver a zakah of $MT
6,000 for the present year, convinced Sa‘d b. Mutlaq to go no further.954 He
subsequently withdrew to al-Burayml and dispersed his forces.955 In this way,
the matter ended favourably for Masqat; confrontation was avoided, and both
sides found the concluding terms agreeable. The absence of hostile activity in
the following years, as well as the successful prevention by the Su‘udl governor
in al-Burayml of an attempt by the shaykhs of the coast to invade territories
under the jurisdiction of Masqat, indicates the mutual faith held in the
settlement.956
As time passed, authorities in both Masqat and al-Riyad grew increasingly
preoccupied with internal difficulties. They were left with little time to
reconsider their own relations, ensuring the continued implementation of the
terms of the settlement and the regular payment of the zakah.
While the Su‘udls in al-Burayml were experiencing difficulty in
consolidating their power in their own regional strongholds,957 the
government of Masqat faced no less difficulty in dealing with the Al Bu Sa‘Id
branch in the district of al-Batinah.958 Disgusted by Sa‘Id b. Sultan’s neglect of
‘Umani affairs and by the increasing British influence on Sard’s commercial
policy, Humud b. ‘Azzan, the chief of Suhar, joined with the Mutawi'ah to try
to re-establish the institution of the Imamate. The Mutawi'ah were very
conservative IbadI militants who followed the lead of certain ultra-conservative
‘Umani religious leaders and acted as those leaders’ armed enforcers and so
posed a challenge to Sa‘Id b. Sultan’s sovereignty.959 They began to search for
a competent candidate for the position. Although he had not made a bid for the
leadership, Humud strongly backed the Muiawi'ah, and eventually not only

i 110