Page 71 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

Sa‘id to conclude a peace with the Su‘ud!s and to embrace the principles of
religious reform they preached.490 Dallons observed that this would ensure the
safety of Masqat and its government and end the factional and tribal conflict in
the region. Sard’s point of view, however, was different. He rejected this
proposal and continued to rely on the assistance of the British. The Su‘ud!s
regarded Sard’s behaviour as a challenge to their supremacy and a
continuation of his aggressive attitude towards them, and thus intensified their
campaign against him.
Meanwhile, Sa‘!d continued to express admiration for the strength of the
English and applied again for their help. In a letter to the Bombay government,
Sa‘Id said:
I am expecting, under the auspices of Heaven, your ships and victorious
troops having in view the annihilation of the deluded Wahabi tribe
who are the foes of us both.491
Sa‘!d also told the British authorities in Bombay that he had refused to
conclude any settlement with the Su‘ud!s because of his connection with the
British government, a connection that involved him in a perpetual and
implacable war with the Su‘ud!s, with whom he was at peace.492 The British, at
this time, were involved in a contest with the French over supremacy in the
Indian Ocean and the Gulf, and they saw no immediate advantage to be gained
from interfering in the Arab conflict. Therefore they declined to provide Sa‘Id
with military aid. Bearing in mind, however, the importance of Masqat for
trade and the significance of Sard’s rule for facilitating such business, the
British expressed their moral support and spoke of themselves as Sard’s good
friends, whose advice was directed to the best interest of the Masqat! regime.
Sa‘!a was thus recommended “to grant the terms of pacification solicited by
the wahabees if consistent with the honour and security of the state of
Maskat.”493 Left to himself and unable to protect the territory from total
subjugation, Sa‘Id yielded to Su‘udl pressure. Sa‘!d, ‘Azzan and Ahmad b.
Sa‘!d, on behalf of his father Sa‘id b. Ahmad, met Mutlaq on the coast of
al-Batinah and apparently offered their submission.494 Sa‘!d eventually paid
$MT 40,000 as zakah and stipulated that a certain amount of zakah would be
paid annually by ‘Azzan b. Qays for Suhar and by Sa‘!d for the remainder of
‘Uman.495
The ruler of Masqat, meanwhile taking advantage of the suspension of
warfare following the settlement and the withdrawal of the Su‘ud! troops from
the area, made preparations to drive Muhammad b. Nasir and the Su‘udl
garrison out from Sama’il and to extend his rule over that part of ‘Uman. To
accomplish such an objective, seemingly beyond his present military
capability, Sa‘id began to look again for foreign help. The British had already
informed him that they were not interested in the ‘Uman! internal conflict and
declined to support him militarily.496 Sa‘Id therefore turned to the Persians,
the Su‘ud!s natural enemies, sending a mission to Shiraz to solicit aid and
assigning his brother Salim as its head. Explaining the ‘Uman! situation, Salim
stated that the Su‘ud! position had been consolidated by the influx of ‘Uman!
tribes to the Su‘ud! fold and by the rebellion of some of the tribes against the
Masqati rule.497 Salim also praised the prince and reminded him of previous
Persian support to the ‘Uman! rulers when their subjects had rebelled against
them.498

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