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RESIDENCY AND MUSK AT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 1379-30. 131

PART IV.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE POLITICAL AGENCY,
MUSK AT, FOR THE YEAR 1379-80.

At the commencement of the official year 1879-80 there was con-
sidcrablc anxiety in Musk at caused by
PoliticaL
the intrigues tlicn carried on by Sheikh
Saleh bin Ali and Scyyid Abdool Azecz against Ilis Highness Scyyid
Toorkce. These two Sheikhs endeavoured to persuade Scyyid Burgash,
the Ghaffiree Chief, to join them in rebellion, but as he refused to do so,
the coalition collapsed, aud by May public coufideucc had been restored.
Iu June rumours of disturbances were again current, as it was assort­
ed that the MettoSvas acting under Sheikh Saleh's instigation were
organizing a rising in the name of His Highness's brother, Abdool Azeez,
but all anxiety on this score was dispelled, when it was ascertained that
the call to arms met with a very feeble respouse, and it became evident
that a coalition of the tribes was at all events for the present improbable.
In June it was reported that Gwadur, a dependency of Muskat, was
in danger of being attacked by the Rinds, a powerful Belooch clan; so
Her Majesty's Ship Ready proceeded there to protect British interests,
as the garrison maintained by His Highness was weak aud inefficient
for the protection of the place. Iu a short time the garrison was
reinforced, aud as a detachment of the Marine Battalion was sent there
by the Resident in the Persian Gulf, all fear of an attack beiug made by
the Rinds passed away.
In July, His Highness Seyyid Toorkec was alarmed by a report,
which turned out to be groundless, that Sheikh Hamood bin Saced El
Jahaafee al Wahibeh had left the Jenebeh tribe, under whose protection he
had been living ever since he had become reconciled to him through
their intercession.
Early in August, Major Euan Smith, the. Political Agent, visited
the chief towns ou the Batinch Coast in Her Majesty's Ship Vulture,
and satisfied himself as to the security of the British Indian subject*
residing in that part of the country.
With the exception of some slight local disturbances in the SernaD
Valley between the Hinawi and Ghaffiree tribes, which were speedily and
satisfactorily arranged by His Highness's officers, nothing serious baa
occurred to disturb the peace of 'Om£n.
The Khore Jiramab again became an object of contention between
the people of Ras El Had and those of Soor; so on the written Request
of His Highness the Sultan, Her Majesty's Ship Ready proceeded
there, and through her presence there a satisfactory, though probably
only a temporary, arrangement of the dispute was effected.
Seyyid Bcdr bin Seif, late Governor of Sohar, who in 1878 waa
deported to Zanzibar, returned to Muskat on the invitation of His High-
ness the Sultan, who shortly after his return appointed him Governor of
Muttrah.