Page 55 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

Su'udi-QasimI alliance enabled Mutlaq to take Shinas, as well as to consolidate
his power over most of the harbours on the coast, including Fakkan, Fujayrah,
Dibba and Khawr Kalba.348 Astonished by such progress on the part of his
enemy, Sa4Id b. Sultan, the ruler of Masqat, sought peace with the invading
troops. Consequently, Mutlaq left these places in the hands of the Qawasim
and retired to his headquarters at al-Burayml. From these strategic inlets, the
Qawasim were able to prey upon ships from Masqat, thereby threatening the
Al Bu Sa'Id rulers.
Hoping to protect British trade in the Gulf as well as to confine the extent of
Su‘udi influence, the Bombay government came to Masqat’s aid by
undertaking a joint operation with Sa‘id b. Sultan, aimed at preserving
Masqat’s independence and destroying the Qawasim power. In November
1809, an expedition from Bombay commanded by Captain John Wainwright
and Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Smith anchored in the port of Masqat.349 Sa‘Id
b. Sultan levied an additional force numbering 6,000 men and a fleet that
joined the expedition.350 The combined forces proceeded towards Ra’s al-
Khaymah and engaged in severe fighting there. The British fleet bombarded
and burned Ra’s al-Khayrnah and other QasimI towns, destroyed the vessels
found there, and slaughtered a great portion of their garrisons.351 Pleased by
the success of the expedition, Sa‘id b. Sultan proposed a joint British-‘UmanI
attack on the Qasimi-Su‘udl garrison in Shinas and Khawr Fakkan. The
proposal was agreed to and they proceeded towards those places.352
Al-Dir‘Iyah’s reaction to the expedition against the coastal allies was
expressed both in word and deed. The Amir Su‘ud, in a written reply to the
Resident at Bushire shortly after the destruction of Ra’s al-Khaymah, gave his
views concerning the operation and its effect and attempted to dissuade the
British government from getting involved in the Su‘udl-Qasiml conflict with
Masqat. Su‘ud showed contempt for the whole expedition and told his
correspondent, the British Resident, not to be elated by the mere conflagration
of a few vessels on the coast.353 The vessels were of no great value, either in
Su‘ud’s opinion or in that of their owners. Su‘ud further stated that he had no
cause for quarrel with the Christians and, therefore, had forbidden his
followers to harass British vessels.354 Furthermore, Su‘ud considered Sa‘Id b.
Sultan of Masqat to be the chief instigator behind the expedition. “The British
Government”, Su’ud said, “had been duped by Sa‘id b. Sultan into meddling
in matters which were none of their business.”355
On the other hand, Su‘ud took prompt punitive action against the ruler of
Masqat. On receiving news of the expedition, Su‘ud immediately dispatched a
Najdl force under ‘Abd Allah b. Mazru‘ to garrison al-Burayml, while Mutlaq
al-Mutayri was sent with a second force to the coast.356 Mutlaq first hastened
to the aid of the Qawasim at Ra’s al-Khaymah but arrived too late and therefore
moved across to Shinas, which, again, he reached after its fall.357 For three
days, the British troops awaited the attack of the Su‘udl forces, but Mutlaq
declined an engagement until the British troops had departed from the place,
whereupon he immediately attacked the ‘Umanls, routed them, and recovered
the town.358
Despite the damage done to the towns and property of the Qawasim by the
British expedition, their naval power remained more or less intact. Some of
their boats had remained beyond the reach of invaders in the deep inlets on the
western side of the Musandam peninsula, while others were away on trading

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