Page 118 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

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FaysaPs eldest son and heir-apparent, whose interest in the Gulf affairs would
have been as great as his father’s. ‘Abd Allah’s participation might have
It. x '-'ir. contributed proportionally to more advantageous results and prepared him for !
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later policy-making between the Arabs and the English in eastern Arabia.
The occasional discussions between Pelly and Mahbub b. Jawhar regarding
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the Arab slave-trade and an exchange treaty proposed by Mahbub had little
5CI iii- ultimate weight. Pelly had grown to dislike Mahbub’s insolent manner, i
sometimes doubting that the ideas brought up by him could have originated II
- "5*5 L- r*) its
- lit Vz— ruler with Faysal.999
In conclusion, although it provided more accurate information on the
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—- « contact with his geography, tribes, and present political condition in Arabia, Pelly’s journey
‘dth Faysal “in does not appear to have produced political benefits or to have helped to diffuse
the troubles in ‘Uman.1000 Upon returning to ‘Uman and witnessing the
sd to have at
Arabia appealed increasing Su‘udl influence and the growing pressure on the government of
Masqat, Pelly reversed his former attitude toward Faysal and resolved not only
*ould hopefully
rtieirii: Society.9** As to contain Su‘udl activity within the region, but also to instigate and assist
Thuwaynl in attacking al-Burayml and, if possible, in driving the Su‘udis out
. iqrei it would find the of the country.1001
ted toward the
Meanwhile, Su‘udl relations with Masqat had remained unchanged by
Pelly’s mission. Shortly after Pelly arrived in Masqat from Najd, Faysal
rr zsrr jib £--vmyi for al-Riyad; they demanded from Thuwaynl an increase in the amount of zakah from $MT
22 sir*. ^ - ii±e SuM capital, 12,000 to $MT 40,000, threatening subsequent punishment if there were no
cccasional remarks compliance.1002 A month later, the usual Su‘udl mission arrived at Masqat and
■i-
---- - In reply to Pelly’s demanded the higher amount requested earlier. After consulting with Colonel
© inake personal Disbrowe, the political agent at Masqat, Thuwaynl decided to pay only the
—~ ~ 32
; iriendliness of the standard $MT 12,000. He sent a messenger to Faysal informing him that he
If 11 zssz ::^v. He described had paid the usual amount, and was awaiting Faysal’s reply to Pelly’s offer of
:rne •r ro- ihe niendly older ties mediation (despatched to al-Riyad earlier in the month) before responding to
rrxiZ£ :
- - government • the additional demands.1003
5 interference m Before Thuwayni’s letter reached its destination, a tribal disturbance broke
out in ‘Uman, causing the Su‘udl troops in the area to become involved. The
; -^regions'« Janabah tribe, who inhabited the port of Sur and its environs in the Ja lan
■ T province of southern ‘Uman, had become disillusioned with the government of
15- 1004
Masqat and sought to disavow their allegiance to Thuwaynl. They
appealed to the Su‘udl contingent, which happened to be in southern Uman,
and also to the Banu Bu. ‘All tribe, who had allied themselves with the Su udls
*to in ‘Uman as well.1005 The Su‘udls and the Banu Bu ‘All were only too willing to

X- ... faysa1* answer the call, and joined the Janabah cause prompdy.1006 The joint elements
c "'toBri'ish overpowered the Masqat! garrison at Sur, looted the town of approximately
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- X $MT 27,000, and killed an Indian merchant during the assault.1007 Since t e
SC •' looting took place in a commercial part of the town run exclusively by Hin u
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.. wvco shopkeepers and British Indian subjects, this group of townspeople suffered
.•v -i exceptional financial losses. Colonel Disbrowe was outraged and, as a result,
V' u -*_L. SSS Bri^
>* ^ w-- x - dhs compounded his hostile attitude towards the Su‘udl state. For examp e,
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Af; \ Disbrowe strongly exhorted Thuwaynl to bring the rebellious tribesat Sur into
submission. 10°3 At the same time, he blamed the Su‘udls for the whole allair,
s. V ' o'*. accusing them of inciting the tribe to overthrow Thuwaym s authority, o
w
V 'v \ 'V' - x • collaborating in the attack, and of being the cause behind the looting. In tne
V _ rfT uame of the Government of India, Disbrowe wrote to both Amir Faysa an j-
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K'- ' * governor of al-Burayml protesting at the incident and demanding
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, A-’ v 115
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