Page 32 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

early history is based on tradition. Oman has always been an
isolated country; the remote interior was almost unknown to the
Arabs of the Gulf, who were only familiar with Muscat and the
coastal towns. The Omanis have clung to their independence up
to the present day. Although the country was at various times
invaded by the Persians, the Caliphs of Baghdad, the Mongols,
the Portuguese and the Wahabis, none of these invaders subjugated
the inland regions and, in most eases, they only had nominal
control of Oman. In some ways Oman resembled the Yemen
which has frequently been invaded, but never wholly conquered.
The Omanis retained their own way of life, electing their own
Imams, often engrossed in tribal wars, but keeping apart from
their Arab neighbours. Only the people of the coast had contact
with the outside world, and as they were ‘the best mariners in all
Arabia’, according to Niebuhr, piracy became their principal
occupation.
Early in the 17th century, the rule of the Yariba dynasty a tribe
of Yemeni origin, was established in Oman. It was they who
were in control when the Portuguese were expelled from Muscat.
A few years later, the Omanis took Bahrain from the Persians,
and threatened Bundar Abbas. The Persians, having no ships of
war, endeavoured to obtain the help of the Portuguese to trans­
port their troops to Bahrain. The negotiations broke down be­
cause the two parties were unable to come to terms about pay­
ment. Shortly afterwards, a Portuguese fleet which had been
despatched from Goa was defeated at sea by the Imam’s navy.
During the first three decades of the* 18th century, there was a
rapid decline in the power of Persia, whose rulers were feeble,
indolent and effeminate, concerned more with palace plots and
intrigues than with maintaining a strong army. The few out­
standing men who held commands were usually removed, or
murdered, owing to jealousy in the court. In 1722, Persia was
invaded by the Afghans. Though the Persian army greatly out­
numbered the Afghans, it put up feeble resistance. Isfahan, the
capital, was besieged, and Shah Husayn, after trying unsuccessfully
to buy off the enemy, surrendered himself and the city to Mahmud
the Afghan chief. So ended the rule of the Safavi dynasty which
had produced 'one or two notable men and several of mediocre
calibre. It was during these years of chaos and wars in Persia that
the rulers of Oman strengthened their position in the Gulf. After
18